Posting this in this echo implies you don't believe there can be ANY
benign or positive application of this technology. . .

Is that so?

Because I care,
|<+]::-)  (Cyberpope(the Bishop of ROM!))


On (17 Jul 06) Steve Asher wrote to All...

 SA> Insurers to Test Implantable Microchip
 SA>
 SA> By THERESA AGOVINO
 SA> ASSOCIATED PRESS
 SA>
 SA> NEW YORK (AP) - In a new test program, Horizon Blue Cross and Blue
 SA> Shield of New Jersey plans to implant patients suffering from chronic
 SA> diseases with a microchip that will give emergency room staff access
 SA> to their medical information and help avoid costly or serious medical
 SA> errors, the insurer said on Friday.
 SA>
 SA> Horizon plans to announce on Monday that it is teaming up with
 SA> Hackensack University Medical Center in a pilot program where 280
 SA> patients regularly treated at the hospital will be implanted with a
 SA> chip containing a code. The chip would allow emergency room personnel
 SA> to retrieve a patient's medical record if the individual can't
 SA> communicate.
 SA>
 SA> The rice-sized microchip is implanted in a patient's right arm above
 SA> the elbow and can be detected using equipment at the hospital.
 SA>
 SA> The hope is that the chips will help doctors avoid medical errors like
 SA> duplicating medical tests, dangerous drug interactions and bad
 SA> diagnoses.
 SA>
 SA> Within the next 30 days, Horizon will start sending letters to
 SA> patients with chronic diseases explaining the new program and
 SA> inviting them to participate. The program is voluntary and won't
 SA> cost the patient any money to participate.
 SA>
 SA> Patients with chronic conditions are the program's target because they
 SA> are more likely to have serious medical problems that could leave them
 SA> unable to communicate when they are at the emergency room, said Dr.
 SA> Richard Popiel, vice president and chief medical officer at Horizon.
 SA> For example, diabetics with low blood sugar may become confused or
 SA> unconscious.
 SA>
 SA> He said Horizon will test the program for two years to see if it
 SA> warrants expansion.
 SA>
 SA> VeriChip Corp. makes the chips and detection equipment. Hackensack
 SA> already had the equipment because it was part of VeriChip's
 SA> development program.
 SA>
 SA>                              -==-
 SA>
 SA> Source: Raiders News Updates ....
 SA> http://www.raidersnewsupdate.com/lead-story158.htm
 SA>
 SA>
 SA> Cheers, Steve..
 SA>
 SA> ---
 SA> (3:800/432)
 SA> 153/715


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