Reinstate Dismissed FDA Reviewers for Neuralink Brain Implant Oversight
16 so far! Help us get to 25 signers!
It is highly concerning that FDA staff reviewing Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain implant company, were abruptly fired without justification or due process. This purge of qualified federal employees overseeing an important clinical trial raises significant ethical and regulatory issues. Dismissing knowledgeable reviewers with expertise on neurological devices seems like a blatant conflict of interest that undermines the integrity of the oversight process. These dismissals hamper the FDA's ability to thoroughly vet and ensure the safety of Neuralink's trials involving human subjects. Ousting employees mid-review based on arbitrary "performance" claims that contradict their actual evaluations is unjustifiable. Rigorous, impartial regulation is crucial when pioneering technologies with vast implications for human health are involved. Neuralink's brain implants require strict scrutiny from specialized personnel to protect patient wellbeing. Replacing experienced reviewers jeopardizes this vital safeguarding role. I urge an immediate review of these terminations and reinstatement of the dismissed FDA staff to allow Neuralink's trials to proceed under proper regulatory oversight. Robust federal agencies should operate independently, free from conflicts that undermine public interests. Swift corrective action must be taken to restore accountability and ethical standards governing new medical device development.