New Delhi: Elon Musk’s brain-implant startup Neuralink is facing a lawsuit from a former employee who claims she was forced to work with monkeys infected with the herpes B virus in unsafe conditions and was later fired after announcing her pregnancy. The complaint, filed in a California state court on Friday, adds to growing scrutiny of the company’s treatment of animals and workplace practices.

The lawsuit filed by former employee Lindsay Short, who worked at Neuralink’s Fremont, California site, alleges that the company created a hostile work environment filled with unrealistic deadlines, blame, and shaming. According to Bloomberg, Short, who joined Neuralink in August 2022, was fired from her job after telling her supervisors about her pregnancy.

In his complaint, Short alleges that he was forced to work with monkeys that carry the herpes B virus, a potentially deadly pathogen, without adequate protective gear. He said a monkey once scratched him through his glove, and in another incident, he was scratched in the face. When he sought medical help for these injuries, the company allegedly threatened “dire consequences.”

Short is suing Neuralink for retaliation, wrongful termination and gender discrimination, among other charges. She also says the company did not fulfill its promise to give her flexible work hours to take into account her family and instead demoted her in May 2023, two months after her promotion.

Neuralink did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit. The company, which is in the early stages of clinical trials for its brain implant designed to help paralyzed patients, has faced criticism in the past for the way it treated animals during research.

Neuralink has faced a federal investigation over potential animal-welfare violations, according to Reuters. US Department of AgricultureThe report by Neuralink’s inspector general came after internal complaints that Musk’s pressure to speed up development led to rushed and incorrect tests on animals, resulting in unnecessary suffering and deaths. The investigation, reported by Reuters in December 2022, looked into violations of the Animal Welfare Act at Neuralink’s facilities.

Neuralink’s past animal research includes a partnership with the University of California, Davis, where surgeries on monkeys resulted in serious complications and deaths, as pointed out by an animal rights group. The group, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, has accused Neuralink and UC Davis of improperly performing surgeries on monkeys. Surgical methodsDue to which the test animals had to suffer unnecessary pain.

Elon Musk is known for pushing his teams to work quickly, often under tremendous pressure. According to Reuters, Neuralink employees have reported that Musk has demanded extended development deadlines, making the atmosphere very stressful. Musk has previously expressed his dislike for the use of animals in research, but he has emphasized the need for rapid progress in developing technologies that can help people with severe disabilities.

Neuralink’s approach involves rapidly serially testing multiple aspects of its technology without fully addressing problems that arose from earlier experiments, resulting in repeated trials and additional animal deaths. This practice has raised concerns among current and former employees about the quality of the data and the ethical implications of the company’s research methods.

According to former employees, Neuralink has made efforts to create better living conditions for its test animals in an attempt to improve public perception, including developing facilities internally referred to as “Monkey Disneyland” or the “Monkey Taj Mahal.” However, these measures have done little to quell the backlash against the company. Animal testing practices,

Neuralink’s ongoing legal battle And Ethical challenges Highlight the widespread difficulties faced by companies in a high-stakes sector medical ResearchWhere the pressure to deliver results can sometimes clash with ethical and regulatory standards. As Neuralink continues its efforts brain implant technology Before the market hits, scrutiny over the treatment of workers and animals is likely to intensify.