Microchipping the Mentally Handicapped, Etal

[socalheart]

Should those individuals who are mentally handicapped due to Down Syndrome, Alzheimer's, severe forms of Autism or other similar things, but are mobile be microchipped for their own safety? Afterall, if grandpa Joe wanders off without his medic alert bracelet, he could go missing for days and be injured before being found. What are your thoughts on this idea? How would you do it? Is it cruel or thoughtful? Is it more convenient for the handicapped or the caretaker? Feel free to discuss it amongst yourselves.

[Isaak Brodsky]

Nice post. I think inserting electronics - especially biochips - in humans is an intolerable injustice. The mentally ill and handicapped are hardly in a position to give their informed consent for this bizarre initiative. Even to the mentally competent, I think that biochips will create serious problems over privacy.

[bikeguy74]

Having a brother with Down Syndrome altho it's not severe, I would not support this. If we started microchipping people it would put them on a sub level below us. Just because they are slower then use or can't communicate as well as us dosen't mean we can just microchip them. I understand that if you did microchip someone you could keep better tabs on them but if you are in the position to help someone with a disability you should be aware that you need to keep a better eye on them.

[Isaak Brodsky]

I agree. Microchips in humans create another class of citizens. Those with real power in society dramatically increase their power over individuals who have been tagged like farm animals or pets. Microchipping is a potentially sinister act. Technologies have been abused by certain individuals for centuries. Chipping represents just another method for exploitation.

[socalheart]

Here's an additional idea: What do you think of also microchipping children? They can put it into the teeth these days also. It would help to find children who've been abducted or lost. What if everyone was microchipped? If a John Doe shows up on a slab somewhere, it'd make it easier to identify him. I'm not arguing for or against... yet. I'm just throwing the ideas out there, because I'm tired of all the bs about the lockdown. :)

[bikeguy74]

I think that if everyone got microchipped it would be ok instead of just doing certain groups. Also if it was a mandatory thing then everyone would be on the same playing field. Another thing would it help track? Or would it also have vital information on it such as blood typed, allergens and so on?

[Oxmix]

I think that the fact that these individuals cannot give their consent to having a chip implanted might in of itself warrant doing it for their own safety provided their legal guardian approves of it.

It may be something for people to think about for themselves should they ever become disabled. People have living wills, why not a pre authorization allowing a chip to be implanted should they become mentally disabled.

Regards

Ox

[socalheart]

The microchip would have all pertinent basic personal info, detailed medical records and health insurance information. I think it should be required for the mentally and physically handicapped and an option for everyone else due to the cost of such a thing.

I'm really only thinking hypothetically about this for the US.

[Tempestuous]

Microchipping wouldn't help find them. It would only help IF found.

I can see how easily something like this could be abused.

Say you have a down syndrome child, you do all the right things and you have a highly functional person that happens to have an extra 21st chromosome that likely causes some physical differences in them.

Because it would be law that due to their diagnosis you have to have them microchipped, even though they are not mentally as limited as others with the same diagnosis.

I have on more than one occasion interacted with people that discriminate against those with such diagnostic labels.
They believe ANY person with ANY such "disease or label" should be institutionalized.

There are people that call the cops if the child is out in their own yard playing "unsupervised". Not mentioning the child is 13 and functionally ok to play unsupervised. (and responsible person is in the house)
Or call the police if the child rides their bike alone.
Forget to mention the "child" they are calling about is 16 and perfectly obeys traffic laws and rides safely. "they are special needs!" And what kind of parent?!?!?!?!?!

People don't always look at the mental capacity and functioning of the person, they look at the "disease", the label, the syndrome they have and automatically assume they can't function.
This is not always the case.

I could see where in a case where the "syndromed" person is functioning & the police are called by a nosey neighbor, or a "concerned" neighbor the child could be scanned every time a police call came in and even though the specific situation did not warrant the call, the record would be placed and it give "evidence" of possible neglect or such to take the syndromed person out of their home where they are allowed to function at their level of ability, and placed in a mental institution.

I just could see how there could be situations where it could be used against very good parents or family members.

We lived next door to an Alzheimer's gentleman growing up. His wife did all she could to keep him out of a nursing home.
She had locks inside and out of the doors of the home to keep him from leaving and wandering off. But you know there were still 2 occasions that I can recall where he got out.
once she was unloading the groceries and he slipped out the door as she was grabbing the last load out of the truck. the other time he swipped her keys and let himself out :)
if he was microchipped and someone turned him in, for two incidents (albeit over the course of 6 yrs), its possible the state could use that evidence to force Pearl to put him in a nursing home.