Animal studies link chip implants to cancer

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Sep 10, 2007 | by Todd Lewan, Associated Press

"At the time we reviewed this, I don't remember seeing anything like that," he said of animal studies linking microchips to cancer.

Watson added: "The few articles from the literature that did discuss adverse tissue reactions similar to those in the articles you provided, describe the responses as foreign body reactions that are typical of other implantable devices. The balance of the data provided in the submission supported approval of the device."

Dr. Neil Lipman, director of the Research Animal Resource Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, said microchips aren't like pacemakers, which are vital to keeping someone alive, "so at this stage, the payoff doesn't justify the risks."

And what of former HHS secretary Thompson?

When asked what role, if any, he played in VeriChip's approval, Thompson replied: "I had nothing to do with it. And if you look back at my record, you will find that there have never been any improprieties whatsoever."

Thompson vigorously campaigned for electronic medical records and health care technology both as governor of Wisconsin and at HHS. While in President Bush's Cabinet, he formed a "medical innovation" task force, partnering FDA with companies developing information technologies.

At a "Medical Innovation Summit" on Oct. 20, 2004, Lester Crawford, the FDA's acting commissioner, thanked the secretary for getting the agency "deeply involved in the use of new information technology to help prevent medication error."

One notable example: "the implantable chips and scanners of the VeriChip system our agency approved last week."

After joining the company, Thompson received options on 166,667 shares of VeriChip Corp. stock, and options on an additional 100,000 shares of stock from its parent company, according to SEC records. He also received $40,000 in cash in 2005 and again in 2006, the filings show.

The Project on Government Oversight called Thompson's actions "unacceptable" even though they did not violate what the independent watchdog group calls weak conflict-of-interest laws.

Thompson, who left VeriChip Corp. in March, is a partner at a Washington law firm that was paid $1.2 million for legal services it provided the chip maker in 2005 and 2006, according to SEC filings.