Pharmacy On-a-chip Dispenses Drugs Automatically 74
An anonymous reader writes "The idea is simple — load up a microchip with a whole pharmacy of drugs that are dispensed as needed automatically. The devil has been in the details, since mistakes could kill the patient if, say, a leak developed dumping dangerous cocktails into the bloodstream. This MIT sponsored company, however, claims to have perfected wireless control of a pharmacy-on-a-chip and has just completed the clinical trials to prove it. The test microchip has just 20 doses of a single drug, but their new prototype will house thousands of pin-prick sized drug reservoirs, after which they will seek FDA approval. The elderly (who have complicated drug regime) and soldiers could both benefit from these smart pharmacies-on-a-chip, since drugs can be dispensed even if the patient is unconscious."
Re:I'm terrified. (Score:5, Informative)
I know that the 'slippery slope' argument is a Slashdot staple, but really?
Automated drug regimens would be a boon to many people who now for one reason or another forget/skip/whatever. Psychosis, dementia, Alzheimer, ADD, brain damage, the list is long and distinguished.
Having been around a few people who tend to forget their medication, this would be a substantial improvement in their quality of life and that of the people around them.