Elon Musk’s brain implant company, Neuralink Corp., is under scrutiny after former employee Lindsay Short filed a lawsuit in California state court on Friday. Short alleges she was forced to work with Herpes B virus-infected monkeys under unsafe conditions at Neuralink’s Fremont facility. She claims these conditions led to her being scratched by the animals, who reportedly had direct contact with her bare skin.
Hostile work environment and retaliation
According to Short, her transfer to the Fremont site in August 2022 introduced her to “a work environment fraught with blame, shame, and impossible deadlines.” After notifying her supervisors about her pregnancy, she says she was subjected to retaliation, including wrongful termination and gender discrimination. Short is suing the company on these grounds.
Neuralink has not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit.
Allegations of unsafe practices
Short’s complaint details several incidents of unsafe practices. In one instance, she claims she was scratched by a monkey through a glove while working with Herpes B virus-infected animals.
Additionally, after performing an unfamiliar procedure, she was scratched on the face by another monkey. Short alleges the company failed to provide adequate protective gear and that her boss threatened her with “severe repercussions” if she sought medical treatment again.
Neuralink, which aims to restore function for paralyzed patients through its brain-implant devices, has faced prior criticism for animal mistreatment, including botched surgeries during research at the University of California, Davis. The company has since moved its monkey research to its own facilities.
Despite these controversies, Neuralink recently marked a milestone when an Arizona man, Noland Arbaugh, became the first human patient to have the device implanted. Arbaugh, a quadriplegic, can now play video games using only his thoughts.
Short’s demotion and termination
Short also alleges that Neuralink failed to honor its promise of flexible work hours for family accommodation. She claims she was demoted in May 2023, just two months after a promotion. Following her disclosure of pregnancy to the human resources department, Short says she was fired the next day, with the company attributing her dismissal to performance issues.
This lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns about workplace safety and ethical practices within the rapidly evolving tech industry.