July 20, 2006
RFID - I've Got You Under My Skin
I Am Not A Number - Part #Who's Counting
[With apologies to Frank "Ol' Blue Eyes" Sinatra] Legislation in Wisconsin and other states against the forced implantation of RFID chips in humans hasn't stopped projects like Hackensack University Medical Center's 2-year voluntary RFID implant trials in New Jersey.
The study is being paid for by an insurance company, and they're looking for 300 volunteers, preferably with chronic conditions. Per-person costs are about $80/m and $200 for RFID chips, although there is no indication that volunteers get compensated. The idea is to determine if the implants reduce health care costs by eliminating misdiagnoses, etc.
VeriChip Corp, a company seemingly pushing for subcutaneous RFID implants in as many people as possible, is supplying chips and readers to 100 hospitals across the US, including Hackensack. VeriChip Corp are the company whose parent company's CEO, Scott Silverman, suggested that VeriChip RFID tags be used to track immigrants, guest workers, and illegal workers. They also have an "infant protection solution" which involves implanting an RFID chip in babies. Currently, their chips are being used in the identification of the deceased around Mississipi, from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Silverman has publicly claimed he would get an RFID implant himself but indications are that he has yet to do so.
Given that other hospital studies are using RFID-enabled, durable bracelets, these RFID implant studies rarely give a certifiably valid reason for implantation. The reasons given are flawed, in my scientifically-backed opinion, and that of many others who don't want to be turned into a number. If you haven't figured it out from my previous ramblings, the scientist in me loves the concept of RFID and has much hope for RFID and its applications. But I wildly oppose the use of RFID implantation. So when VeriChip goes IPO soon, I'll be buying as many shares as possible :)
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