Could the VeriChip implant break or fail to operate?
Yes. “Failure of the implanted transponder” was one of the risks the FDA identified with regard to the VeriChip. If a patient were to rely on the chip to transmit critical medical information in an emergency, failure of the device could result in serious complications or even death. Implant failure was an issue raised in the animal studies as well. Rao and Edmondson reported that four of the 140 implants used in their study failed due to microscopic cracks in the weld connecting the antenna leads to the microchips, or leakage of the glass capsules, resulting in fluid accumulation around the microchips. 68 That works out to a failure rate of almost 3%.
