- Damning research findings could spell the end of VeriChip
-
- The Associated Press will issue a breaking story this
weekend revealing that microchip implants have induced cancer in laboratory
animals and dogs, says privacy expert and long-time VeriChip opponent Dr.
Katherine Albrecht.
-
- As the AP will report, a series of research articles
spanning more than a decade found that mice and rats injected with glass-encapsulated
RFID transponders developed malignant, fast-growing, lethal cancers in
up to 1% to 10% of cases. The tumors originated in the tissue surrounding
the microchips and often grew to completely surround the devices, the researchers
said.
-
- Albrecht first became aware of the microchip-cancer link
when she and her "Spychips" co-author, Liz McIntyre, were contacted
by a pet owner whose dog had died from a chip-induced tumor. Albrecht then
found medical studies showing a causal link between microchip implants
and cancer in other animals. Before she brought the research to the AP's
attention, the studies had somehow escaped public notice.
-
- A four-month AP investigation turned up additional documents,
several of which had been published before VeriChip's parent company, Applied
Digital Solutions, sought FDA approval to market the implant for humans.
The VeriChip received FDA approval in 2004 under the watch of then Health
and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson who later joined the company's
board.
-
- Under FDA policy, it would have been VeriChip's responsibility
to bring the adverse studies to the FDA's attention, but VeriChip CEO Scott
Silverman claims the company was unaware of the research.
-
- Albrecht expressed skepticism that a company like VeriChip,
whose primary business is microchip implants, would be unaware of relevant
studies in the published literature.
-
- "For Mr. Silverman not to know about this research
would be negligent. If he did know about these studies, he certainly had
an incentive to keep them quiet," said Albrecht. "Had the FDA
known about the cancer link, they might never have approved his company's
product."
-
- Since gaining FDA approval, VeriChip has aggressively
targeted diabetic and dementia patients, and recently announced that it
had chipped 90 Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers in Florida. Employees
in the Mexican Attorney General's Office, workers in a U.S. security firm,
and club-goers in Europe have also been implanted.
-
- Albrecht expressed concern for those who have received
a chip implant, urging them to get the devices removed as soon as possible.
-
- "These new revelations change everything,"
she said. "Why would anyone take the risk of having a cancer chip
in their arm?"
-
-
- ==========================================
-
- ABOUT CASPIAN
-
- CASPIAN (Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion
and Numbering)
- is a grass-roots consumer group fighting retail surveillance
schemes
- since 1999 and irresponsible RFID use since 2002. With
thousands of
- members in all 50 U.S. states and over 30 countries worldwide,
CASPIAN
- seeks to educate consumers about marketing strategies
that invade their
- privacy and encourage privacy-conscious shopping habits
across the
- retail spectrum.
-
- ==========================================
-
- FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE
CONTACT:
-
- Dr. Katherine Albrecht
- Founder and Director, CASPIAN Consumer Privacy
- (877) 287-5854, kma@spychips.com
-
- Host of "Uncovering the Truth"
- We the People Radio Network, M-F 10AM-12PM EST
- http://www.wtprn.com
-
- Co-author of "SPYCHIPS: How Major Corporations and
Government
- Plan to Track Your Every Move with RFID"
- http://www.spychips.com/book/booksales.html
-
- WEBSITES:
- Human Chipping: http://www.AntiChips.com
- RFID: http://www.SpyChips.com
- Shopper Cards: http://www.NoCards.org
- Bio online at: http://www.spychips.com/media/katherine-albrecht.html
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