Assessment of CHIPtechnology:pros and cons of CHIP usage - Research Paper Example

The common chip used in humans is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips and these chips are used for identification and tracking purpose. The RFID chips are very small like the size of a grain. “RFID chips have been implanted into humans in the U.S. ever since the FDA approved the procedure four years ago, but only now has it become a growing trend with significant benefits” (Ricci, 2011). In 2004, the US government approved the implanting of chips in human body with the specific aim of helping the medical field.

“The US government has made strict laws which say that no person or no organization can force an individual to get an RFID chip implanted. RFID chips nowadays cost somewhere around 50 cents. The RFID chip implant is done through a surgical procedure in which a chip of the dimension of 12 mm X 2.2 mm is implanted under the human skin” (RFID Chip in Humans, 2011). Pros of chip technology: The major advantages of chip technology are observed mainly in medical field and for tracking information about the patients: 1.

The RFID chips can be used to store medical history of a person: The RFID chip is mainly used for storing medical history of the patients and this helps the doctors when the patient is hospitalized in a serious condition. The doctor will be able to know the medical history just by using a scanner. Alzheimer’s patients and cardiovascular patients are mainly benefited through chip technology. Since the Alzheimer’s patients face memory loss, doctors are able to get the information from the chips. 2. Identity verification: Chips act as identification source and this chip can be used for the identification of the patients by healthcare providers. 3. Automatic security clearance: The automatic security clearance can be an advantage when patients with physical difficulties have to visit either a hospital or other organizations where high security measures are in place. 4. Tracking patients and staff: The chip implanted in patients and the staff of hospital helps the management to trace them easily.

This will help to ensure the effective working of the staff and to lacate patients who are out of their place. Cons of Chip Technology: Even though chip technology has several advantages, it is not free from limitations. The major disadvantages of chip technology are: 1. RFID does not identify individuals: It is not necessary that the RFID chips verify individuals but identifies the contents in the chip. This may be possible if the chip is not planted in the human body instead is carried as a tag. 2. Loss of freedom and privacy: The chips allow the health provider to know where the patient is and when under observation, can compromise their privacy.

In the case of observation by the legal officials, it tampers the freedom of the person under observation. 3. Adverse tissue reaction: The use of chip in human body can cause tissue reaction which may entail an imbalance in the health condition of the person. “In the case of a microchip implant, additional tissue reaction occurs due to anti-migrational techniques that are used to prevent the implanted chip from moving.” (Microchips Risks: FDA-IDENTIFIED POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS, n.d). 4. Radiation can cause various health problems: As the doctors have to scan the patient to obtain the details in the chip, it leads to various