Healthy Living: Microchips For People

KUTV | December 27 2005

You’ve heard of implantable chips to track your pets, but now people are getting them for medical purposes. In this Healthy Living report learn why some believe they could save lives.

It sounds like science fiction, but Nick Minicucci is getting a microchip implanted in his arm.

“When you pulled it out, that's the only time I actually felt it leaving,” said Nick.

The chip is smaller than a thumbnail, but allows doctors access to his entire medical records with only the swipe of a scan.

“There are days I forget I even have it. It's part of me, like taking insulin,” said Molly Phillips who suffers from diabetes.

Molly she had the chip implanted in her arm after a medical scare landed her in the hospital. Doctor’s didn't know what medication she was on.

“If I’m in that circumstance again, they would scan my arm, pull up my info and have it right there within seconds,” she said.

It was originally used for tracking lost pets, but the FDA approved VeriChip implants in humans last year. Each chip contains a unique 16 digit number that when scanned, connects doctors to an internet database that retrieves medical records instantly.

“Patients in our emergency trauma come in very sick and it's the sickest patients that you need accurate information, medical information up front. In a very timely fashion,” said Dr. Joseph Feldman.

Privacy advocates are concerned the personal medical records could be abused. But Molly says for her, there's no downside.

“There's really nothing but what kind of medication I’m on. A doctor would want to know what meds I’m on but no one else would care,” Molly said.

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