Friday, June 29, 2007
Storing medical information under your skin:
By Phillip T. Alden – San Mateo Daily Journal
For publication – July 3, 2007
A recent article in Yahoo! News stated the American Medical Association's (AMA) support of a small, rice grain sized chip that can be implanted under the skin of a patient. When said patient arrives in an emergency room doctors can employ a hand-held device that reads the information.
The data is supposed to include the patient's medical history, and illnesses or diseases they may be suffering from, and a complete list of all the medications the patient is currently taking.
The technology behind these chips is known as Radio Frequency Identification Tags, (or RFID,) is already widely used in shipping and inventory processes for large companies like Wal-Mart. It's been said that RFID tags will replace the old "bar code" price tags, enabling the merchant to scan the item at the register, automatically order replacement inventory, and even act as security devices to thwart shoplifting.
Although the retail RFID chips are said to become inactive once they have been scanned, there is no guarantee of this actually happening. Privacy advocates are justifiably concerned that such tags could be used to track the spending habits of consumers, (which the companies have stated as a goal,) and possibly track the people themselves. Many privacy advocates feel there are already too many ways that American citizens can be tracked.
And they have good reason for concern. The Bush Administration has shown time and time again they are willing, (and in some cases eager,) to ignore the laws that insure the privacy rights of Americans. Their illegal wire-tapping program under the guise of "fighting terrorism" is a good example. Even though the 9-11 attacks were planned and carried out by people from Saudi Arabia, the Bush Administration decided to make all Americans terrorist suspects for the purpose of suspending our rights using abhorrent pieces of legislation like the ill-named Patriot Act, rammed through an American government so controlled by one party that it destroyed our system of checks and balances.
I understand the reason and logic behind the AMA's support for these medical chip implants. When a patient is brought into an emergency room they are often not in a condition to give the doctor accurate and complete information about their health status. Doctors are afraid of administering a drug that may interact with an pre-existing condition or drug in the patient's system.
In a country where we could count on our government to not abuse its power, the implementation of such a program might not generate so much controversy. But our government has shown time and again that it cannot be trusted to abuse its power, and at the moment the American people are stuck with a government they know they cannot trust. The anti-American secrecy of the Bush Administration, especially the Vice-President's office, and the long list of lies and illegal activities they have engaged in does not create an atmosphere of trust among the American people.
As a compromise, the AMA could issue "dog tags" like our soldiers have, or a wallet card with the RFID chip implanted in the card. That way, Americans concerned about their right to privacy and unwarranted government intrusion into their private lives, could make a choice to carry the chip or leave it at home or in the car. They could also shield the tag by placing it in a bag that deflects unwanted scans.
The doctors who support this idea and the AMA might not like this compromise, but with the current state of American politics, they may have to make such allowances for Americans like myself who still value our right to privacy.
By Phillip T. Alden – San Mateo Daily Journal
For publication – July 3, 2007
A recent article in Yahoo! News stated the American Medical Association's (AMA) support of a small, rice grain sized chip that can be implanted under the skin of a patient. When said patient arrives in an emergency room doctors can employ a hand-held device that reads the information.
The data is supposed to include the patient's medical history, and illnesses or diseases they may be suffering from, and a complete list of all the medications the patient is currently taking.
The technology behind these chips is known as Radio Frequency Identification Tags, (or RFID,) is already widely used in shipping and inventory processes for large companies like Wal-Mart. It's been said that RFID tags will replace the old "bar code" price tags, enabling the merchant to scan the item at the register, automatically order replacement inventory, and even act as security devices to thwart shoplifting.
Although the retail RFID chips are said to become inactive once they have been scanned, there is no guarantee of this actually happening. Privacy advocates are justifiably concerned that such tags could be used to track the spending habits of consumers, (which the companies have stated as a goal,) and possibly track the people themselves. Many privacy advocates feel there are already too many ways that American citizens can be tracked.
And they have good reason for concern. The Bush Administration has shown time and time again they are willing, (and in some cases eager,) to ignore the laws that insure the privacy rights of Americans. Their illegal wire-tapping program under the guise of "fighting terrorism" is a good example. Even though the 9-11 attacks were planned and carried out by people from Saudi Arabia, the Bush Administration decided to make all Americans terrorist suspects for the purpose of suspending our rights using abhorrent pieces of legislation like the ill-named Patriot Act, rammed through an American government so controlled by one party that it destroyed our system of checks and balances.
I understand the reason and logic behind the AMA's support for these medical chip implants. When a patient is brought into an emergency room they are often not in a condition to give the doctor accurate and complete information about their health status. Doctors are afraid of administering a drug that may interact with an pre-existing condition or drug in the patient's system.
In a country where we could count on our government to not abuse its power, the implementation of such a program might not generate so much controversy. But our government has shown time and again that it cannot be trusted to abuse its power, and at the moment the American people are stuck with a government they know they cannot trust. The anti-American secrecy of the Bush Administration, especially the Vice-President's office, and the long list of lies and illegal activities they have engaged in does not create an atmosphere of trust among the American people.
As a compromise, the AMA could issue "dog tags" like our soldiers have, or a wallet card with the RFID chip implanted in the card. That way, Americans concerned about their right to privacy and unwarranted government intrusion into their private lives, could make a choice to carry the chip or leave it at home or in the car. They could also shield the tag by placing it in a bag that deflects unwanted scans.
The doctors who support this idea and the AMA might not like this compromise, but with the current state of American politics, they may have to make such allowances for Americans like myself who still value our right to privacy.
# posted by Phillip T. Alden @ 7:03 PM 
