Oct. 13, 2004 - 18:07 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

Suspicion

Could truly be a panacea for us. MSNBC came out with this today.

FDA APPROVES COMPUTER CHIP FOR HUMANS

"Devices could help doctors with stored medical information:

The VeriChip, the size of a grain of rice, is inserted under the skin with a needle in a procedure that takes less than 20 minutes to complete."

Also showing in that same blurb is more from The Associated Press.

WASHINGTON - "The Food And Drug Administration on Wednesday approved an implantable computer chip that can pass a patient's medical details to doctors, speeding care."

"VeriChips, radio frequency microchips the size of a grain of rice, have already been used to identify wayward pets and livestock. And nearly 200 people working in Mexico's Attorney General's office have been implanted with chips to access secure areas containing sensitive documents."

"Delray Beach, Fla. - based Applied Digital Solutions in July asked the FDA for approval to use the implantable chip for medical uses in the United States. The agency had 60 days to reply to the (??????) symbols I can't read) application."

"It's the first time the FDA has approved the use of the device, though in Mexico more than 1,000 scannable chips have been implanted in patients. The chip's serial number pulls up the patients blood type and other medical information."

"With a pinch of a syringe, the microchip is inserted under the skin in a procedure that takes less than 20 minutes and leaves no stitches."

"Silently and invisibly, the dormant chip stores a code (similar to the identifying UPC code on products sold in retail stores) that releases outpaient-specific information when a scanner passes over the chip."

"At the doctor's office those codes stamped onto chips, once scanned, would reveal such information as a patient's allergies and prior treatments."

"The FDA in October 2002 said that the agency would regulate health care applications possible through VeriChip. Meanwhile, the chip has been used for a number of security-related tasks as well as for pure whimsy: Club hoppers in Barcelona, Spain, now use the microchip much like a smartcard to speed drink orders and payment."

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A few thoughts of mine on this subject . . .

Even under the present methods in use now, a patient has very little knowledge of what information is stored in the medical computers and has very little chance to object or change it. But with the microchip the chances to object and force a change to the truth will be less, I think.

The microchip is not like a medical bracelet a patient chooses to wear, nor like a medical information card some carry in their wallet. And just how much information can be stored ? Will a microchip be implanted into the wrist of a mental patient ? What would keep one of those chips from being inserted in the wrist of an unconscious patient, one when in surgery ? Perhaps a printed paper in plain English containing said information should be given to the patient or one legally in care absolutely without fail.

Looks to me that if it is done properly and accurately it will be a boon to the medical profession and also to a patient wearing one of those microchips.

Thinking though about 9-11 induced paranoia, I wonder. Will this open the door to making this a national ID card type thing ? What knowledge will a person have of what is printed on the microchip, will he have any say on what is put on there ? How can it be possible to legally determine what is on and in that microchip ? With Ashcroft and Homeland Security at the helm, it wouldn't surprise me to see them come up with a spin trying to make everyone want the microchip. Convenience, for the lazy folks maybe ? Possible extra privileges for the greedy ? Of course PATRIOTISM - flag and Mother's apple pie will often suck folks in.

There has been a stir about "National Driver's Licenses," recently. Many of us are against that too, for similar reasons. But the microchip poses far more dangers to our welfare if allowed to be wrongly used -- at least that is the way it looks to me.

Miraculous things can be evilly used in the wrong hands, and it is frightening if that should be in the hands of any administration. Things like this make me, perhaps paranoically Suspicious . . . . . .

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