Could you need a medical microchip in the near future?

Allied Health Institute: Although it’s been more than a decade since the FDA approved the use of medical microchips, the debate has not settled the question of their proper use. Despite the slow progress since federal approval, experts believe a breakthrough is right around the corner.  Legal sanction of medical microchips dates back to 2004 when the FDA first approved them for human use. That first microchip, which was called the VeriChip and was essentially the size of a grain of rice, was designed to be inserted underneath the skin with a small needle. The idea was to create a chip that could silently and invisibly provide patient-specific information when scanned by a doctor or healthcare professional. The approval of the VeriChip sparked a lot of controversy — for example, among religious groups who claimed it was the biblical “Mark of the Beast” — and ultimately indicated the technology’s biggest hurdle might well be public perception and privacy concerns.


In 2015, concerns that were raised 11 years ago still linger in the air. However, improvements in the technology and an enhanced focus on patient education means we are closer than ever to widespread use of medical microchips.
Furthermore, the potential uses of this technology have expanded tremendously. By as early as 2017, doctors and researchers believe medical microchips could be implanted for the purpose of delivering drugs or birth control hormones at the same time each day.
One company even states its technology could allow people to take consistent doses of hands-free medication for as long as 16 years. In addition, it can transmit data back to doctors and hospitals so a permanent record is generated.
Many have expressed the fear, however, that the government could eventually control population numbers if birth control is subjected to mandatory microchip releases. It’s the latest version of the “Big Brother” argument — one that’s even led to an ObamaCare microchip implant rumor.
But it’s not just medical uses of the microchip that are on the horizon. Other possible uses might include being able to unlock cars and doors, passing through airport security more quickly, tracking criminals, and locating abducted children.
Ultimately, the future of medical microchips will be determined by whether the technology can overcome these substantial challenges and barriers. The failure of the VeriChip — which was later rebranded as PositiveID — suggests a majority of the public still isn’t convinced that inserting microchips into their bodies is safe.
As Dina Spector wrote in a 2014 article for Business Insider: “The technology is not yet useful or developed enough for everyone to have it, or even want it.” 
But it’s important to note that breakthroughs are occurring right now and will continue to happen in the coming years. Experts believe medical microchips should finally gain traction in the next five or ten years, with widespread adoption likely to occur in as little as two decades.
From a personal point of view, it’s important that you stay up to date with new developments and form your opinions based on the facts — not rumors or speculation. A medical microchip could save your life in the future. While some data is currently available, plenty more will be generated in the years to come.