Bill Takes On "Future Problem" Of Involuntary Microchip Implants [666]
Pastor Dale Morgan
Bill Takes On "Future Problem" Of Involuntary Microchip Implants [666]*
Mar 22nd, 2007 7:56 AM
Bill takes on future problem: involuntary microchip implants
By DAVID ROYSE
Associated Press Writer
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.
The good scenario is this: a hit-and-run victim arrives unconscious and
without ID at a hospital, where a simple check finds a microchip
implanted in his arm. Immediately, doctors know his identity, his blood
type and any drug allergies.
It's already happening for hundreds of patients who have chosen to have
their medical records stored on a microchip implanted in their arms.
But Sen. Bill Posey is worried about the bad scenario: A hospital, the
military, some rogue government agent perhaps, putting a chip in someone
against his will. Why it might happen, Posey's not sure. But the
technology exists, and he doesn't want to chance it.
"You shouldn't have these chips in people without their consent," said
Posey, who is sponsoring a bill moving in the Legislature to prohibit
anyone from implanting a microchip in someone without that person's
approval.
"No, I'm not a conspiracy theorist," said Posey, R-Rockledge. "But the
reality is chips exist, and if they were implanted without your
knowledge or consent it would be a severe violation of your privacy."
The bill (SB 2220) won unanimous approval Wednesday from the Senate
Health Regulation Committee, although several committee members
expressed doubts about whether the measure is needed.
"Is there a problem?" asked Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey. "Are
there people out there putting microchips in people?"
Well, yes. A Florida company has federal approval for a microchip
implant for patients who want to have their medical records easily
available when they go for medical care, as in the scenario of the guy
arriving at the emergency room unconscious.
But the company, VeriChip, has the consent of all the patients who
participate.
Its VeriMed system is increasingly used - more than 500 hospitals are
making it available for patient identification and have the scanning
technology to read the information stored on the chips, according to the
Delray Beach-based company. More than 1,400 doctors have made the chips
available to their patients.
Generally, the company doesn't oppose Posey's bill because it believes
chip implantation should be voluntary, said chairman and CEO Scott
Silverman.
"It should always be with the knowledge of the person receiving it,"
Silverman said in an interview.
He understands the fears of where the technology may be headed.
"There seems to be fears of being able to track people," the way global
positioning systems are used to track stolen cars. Silverman argues the
technology isn't there yet for that.
"With the chip being about the size of a grain of rice, there's no way
as far as I could see that any kind of GPS technology could be implanted
in a product that size," he said.
Posey disagrees, and said if it hasn't already been done, it soon will
be. He wrote about the idea 10 years ago in a self-published science
fiction novel.
Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, has also seen the idea before - in a
1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger film.
"They did that in 'Total Recall,' you ever see that movie?" Aronberg
asked during debate on the bill Wednesday. "It didn't work then, either."
He voted for the bill, but lacked enthusiasm for it. "I don't know if
this is the most pressing issue facing Floridians - today," Aronberg said.
While some fear the technology may be used for tracking, others had the
opposite concern - that tracking won't be permitted.
Sen. J. D. Alexander, R-Winter Haven, worried the bill would prevent
judges from ordering that microchips be implanted into criminals against
their will if the technology became available to track probationers that
way.
A Posey aide told Alexander the bill would indeed prevent that.
Sen. Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, half-jokingly asked how he might
implant one in a teenage daughter.
While the measure moved easily through committee, it's ultimately
unlikely to pass because it doesn't have a House sponsor.