Real news needs to travel faster

It’s supposed to be a joke: “If you find it on the Internet, it must be true.” That sarcasm, unfortunately, flies right over many people.

It’s amazing what people consider news. Recently, a post on a social media site linked to an article warning, “All Americans will receive a microchip implant in 2017 per Obamacare.” The reaction was overwhelming. Chest-thumpers proclaimed, “The government will never force me to be tracked!” Bible-thumpers cited the Book of Revelation, saying the chips were a step toward the mark of the Beast.

If these responses weren’t so filled with conviction, one could consider this a joke, too.

Attempting to add credibility to this article – which has been circulating since 2010 or earlier – the sensationalized headline included a photo of a hand with a radio frequency identification (RFID) implant. It linked to an FDA website page from 2004 and even to specific pages of earlier drafts of healthcare reform bills. Of course, it didn’t offer a link to the actual Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, H.R. 3590, (ACA) which does not mention using microchips to track Americans.

The beginning drafts of ACA allowed for data collection from all Class II devices – including implantable RFID transponders, but other devices in this class can be X-ray machines, powered wheelchairs, infusion pumps, surgical drapes, surgical needles and suture material, and acupuncture needles – for the purpose of post-market safety and outcomes data. The actual law removed the words and said nothing about a medical device registry or device serialization. American citizens are not going to be tracked by RFID implants, but the inaccurate news headline spread like an epidemic, with people vowing to fight non-existent mandatory implantation. Nobody questioned it.

I finally felt the urge to post a comment and offered a link to the FDA’s website that explains what UDI is and the stages of implementation. I also explained how medical manufacturers are working to meet the various compliance dates set by the FDA – the first phase goes into effect Sept. 24, 2014 (http://1.usa.gov/1nKa8e0). Finally, I suggested they could read about how UDI has the potential to improve the quality of information in medical device adverse-event reports, which will help quickly identify product problems, better target recalls, and improve patient safety.

The links didn’t get any response or reaction. If only accurate news could spread as fast as sensationalized stories do. – Elizabeth

Don’t forget…

In just three months, IMTS 2014 will open with more than 1,900 companies occupying 1.24 million net square feet of exhibit space. The event showcases new technology, educates the current workforce, and teaches the next generation of skilled workers what manufacturing really is these days. We will be there to cover IMTS before, during, and after the show.

While you’re there, make plans to attend the IMTS 2014 Conference – www.imts.com/education/conference.html – as well as the daylong Motion, Drive, and Automation Conference.

IMTS 2014 will be buzzing with news – new tools, new machines, new techniques, new ideas.