“ Implanted ID chip finds way into ERs, bars”

By Alorie Gilbert, CNET News.com. Published on ZDNet News: January 21, 2005

The future of healthcare continues to make strides in order to improve quality and this time it comes in the form of a chip that is capable of storing information in a digital format and can be implanted into your body. Your identity, personal medical records, and other important information can go with you where ever you go and save you the hassle of looking for your wallet and remembering pertinent personal information. That chip can also monitor your vital signs and be used by others to locate you, using global positioning satellite technology, no matter where you might be. These in other words, mean that you will be a cyborg, which is part human and part machine. This leads to the discussion of ethical stand point and the broad uses of it. One must also ask themselves that will this lead to a helpful outcome in its future uses, or would you see it as a serious threat to your privacy and a potential tool for the government to gain power on individuals and for businesses to make a living out of personal life. This technology is not just in movies such as Jonny Neumonic, Cyborg, Gattica and Matrix, but is here now and nearly ready to be used. It is the new product by Applied Digital Solutions of Florida named the VeriChip. On October 12, 2004, the Food and Drug Administration approved VeriChip for medical applications in the United States. This approval allows VeriChip for use of strict identity purposes, and uses in blood type checks, allergy identification and medical history of unconscious patients. This is meant as a basica a substitute for the previously used Medical tags that was worn as a bracelet and or necklace. However, the device