Elon Musk: Science without ethics

Mladen Antonov/Agence France-Presse

In today's New York Times:

To the Editor:

There is no “repayment” for the innumerable animals who die after being abused in experiments. 

Until we replace animals in testing and research with human-relevant methods — which my organization works toward every day — we must ensure that those who are conducting animal experiments are transparent about the lack of meaningful regulatory protections afforded those animals.

It took a lawsuit to expose the senseless and deadly brain experiments that Elon Musk’s company Neuralink has subjected monkeys and other animals to. The federal government is now investigating the company.

But for every Neuralink, there are countless animal experiments that deserve, but don’t receive, the same high-profile scrutiny. 

The experiments often kill animals for research that has already been conducted safely in humans. And mice used in these experiments receive no protection under the federal Animal Welfare Act.

Animals don’t want to be experimented on, and more human-relevant methods are better and safer for humans, too. 

Instead of hollow atonement for ethical sins, let’s make ethical science a reality and leave the animals alone.

Kristie Sullivan

Ann Arbor, Michigan

The writer is vice president for research policy 

at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.