9.08.2007

MICROCHIP IMPLANTS CAUSE FAST-GROWING, MALIGNANT TUMORS IN LAB ANIMALS

BREAKING NEWS:
From: Dr. Katherine Albrecht
Founder and Director, CASPIAN Consumer Privacy

(Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering)

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, none
of the studies had received widespread 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 board
of the company.

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 a having cancer chip in their arm?"