Patients who worry about being given the wrong drugs or surgery will like a new system from Sharp of Japan (US 2003/55686). As a patient checks into hospital, they are given a smart card that contains a unique ID code, and a simple pocket-sized device, like a cut-down PDA, that communicates wirelessly with the hospital鈥檚 central computer system.
Slotting the smart card into the mobile device transmits the patient鈥檚 ID code to the hospital system, which then returns encrypted medical records that can be decoded and read on the gadget鈥檚 screen. The patient can show their device to a nurse, pharmacist or surgeon to ensure that their identity and medical requirements cannot be mistaken. Unless you鈥檝e picked up someone else鈥檚 smart card, that is鈥�
