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How many of you forgot to take your pills this morning? What if there was a way to distribute your medications without any effort on your part? For those who have to take more than one pill a day and at certain times, this may not seem so bad. The idea is that your doctor would theoretically be able to administer your drugs at any time and at any dose just by using a remote control. Massachusetts Institute of Technology has been working on such a project since 1999, but there are concerns that should be addressed.

MicroCHIPS: A Pharmacy Inside Your Body

MicroCHIPS, the company that produces these devices, is working diligently towards a 2017 release date of an implanted chip that distributes medicine into the body. “The MicroCHIPS implantable drug delivery device is the greatest advancement in delivering medicine since the first tablet pill was developed in 1876,” CEO Bradley Paddock stated. The first set of MicroCHIPS will most likely only last five years, but it is possible to create one that could last up to 16 years. The MicroCHIPS device will also supply the doctor’s office or hospital with permanent records of when the drug was taken and at what dose.

MicroCHIP Studies

Researchers Robert Langer and Michael Cima, who first started the project in the ‘90s, were able to conduct a study in 2012. They implanted the MicroCHIPS below the waistline and under the skin of eight different women who suffer from osteoporosis. The devices then delivered the osteoporosis drug, which is normally injected, right into the patient. The end result of the research study showed that the method was not only effective, but safe.

MicroCHIPS have their pros and cons like any new medical device or drug that hits the market. The pros for this medication distribution system would be for those who have to take a lot of medications throughout the day, those who take time sensitive distributed medications, and for those who suffer from memory problems. This chip could also serve as a potential rescue device further down the line, releasing medications for strokes, allergic reactions, heart attacks, or any number of at-risk patient conditions.

The cons would clearly be a computer malfunction that could cause the device to either distribute too much of the medications, too little, or none at all – potentially resulting in death. Another factor to consider would be the concerns about the types of medications allowed to be implanted, like prescription pain pills. This could just be putting gasoline on the already growing fire of prescription pill abuse in the United States.

Clearly these pros and cons would have to be taken into consideration before the mass production of MicroCHIPS is implemented. It could have the potential of healing and saving more lives, but it could also have the potential of causing multiple deaths. In the meantime, it’s important that consumers educate themselves when it comes to engaging in old and new medicine practices – the future depends on it.

What are your thoughts and opinions about MicroCHIPS? Let us know in the comment boxes below.