X-Message-Number: 12243
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 20:17:03 +1000
From: Simon Carter <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #12241 (improved access to medical info)

In CryoNet Message #12241 David King wrote:

> > It's 2 a.m. and paramedics rush an unconscious man to an emergency room.
> > Little is known about the patient, and his medical records are not
> > available until the start of the business day, so a doctor runs
> > a battery of expensive and time-consuming tests.
> >
> > But another scene may soon unfold. This time, paramedics reach the patient
> > who is carrying a medical-alert card emblazoned with a Web address. They
> > radio the information to the hospital, where a nurse logs onto a Web
> > site containing the patient's medical records. By the time the ambulance
> > arrives at the ER, a doctor has reviewed the patient's medical history
> > and charted a course of possible treatment.
> 
> I think an even better solution would be a microchip embedded under our skin
> which contains all of our medical history. A reader in the ambulance could
> read the chip and instantly know any allergies or special circumstances that
> doctors should know about.  I would expect this to become a widespread
> practice in the near future.

I imagine this will happen tho' I can also imagine the privacy issues involved!

It may take a while for people to get used to the idea of implanted chips
however. I reckon enhancing our cryonics alert bracelets/wallet cards with a
link to web info is the way to go at present.

Simon


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