By Pamela D Wilson, The Care Navigator, CSA, MS, BS/BA, CG

VeriChip Corporation has developed microchip implant technology able to track Alzheimer's patients who wander, similar to the chip implants pet owners place in their dogs or cats and much like a GPS system. Interestingly enough the technology has other uses for example, serving as a "unique lifetime identifier or ULI". (1)

The chip has the capacity to hold the entire medical record of an individual. For example, in the event of an emergency room visit, the hospital can access immediate information often saving a life especially if the person is unconscious and has no one with them upon admission that can provide medical history. This would be especially relevant to older adults who live alone and access emergency services. The chip has the potential to hold other personal information such as passports, insurance, banking, social security number, birth certificate, marriage license etc. Imagine never having to hunt for this information again. The technology can also be used to track missing or kidnapped children, high profile individuals, terrorists and also decrease fraudulent social security claims by individuals using stolen social security numbers.

  The controversy lies in discussions over government control, privacy and security. Currently the chip has 2,000 recipients and over 900 medical facilities have chip readers. One interesting concept is the idea of an insurance company having the ability to monitor the activity level of an individual, thus giving larger premium discounts to individuals who are more active. The cost is a $200 initial fee and a $10 data storage fee each month, comparable to the cost of a Project Lifesaver wrist band that is only good up to 1-2 miles from home. Opponents to the concept state that a bracelet like Project Lifesaver or the Medic Alert Safe Return bracelet or necklace is less invasive and can equal the chip in results. But can it really? Either of these less invasive methods is limited by distance, 1-2 miles from home, and requires a large number of available law enforcement to physically search for the individual.

Proponents state that the chip should be offered as a voluntary measure and then as popularity spreads be a mandatory item especially for at risk individuals and children. Leslie Jacobs, one of the first to receive a VeriChip said, "The world would be a safer place if authorities had a tamper proof way of identifying people. I have nothing to hide, so I wouldn't mind having the chip for verification. I already have an ID card, why not a chip?" (2)

(1) Michael, K. et al. Microchip Implants for Humans as Unique Identifiers: A Case Study on VeriChip. University of Wyoming, 2008. http://ro.uow.edu.au/infopapers/586.

(2) Michael, K. et al. The Social, Cultural, Religious and Ethical Implications of Automatic Identification. University of Wollongong, Australia.

Copyright 2011 Pamela D. Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

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