X-Message-Number: 10673 Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1998 14:04:58 -0500 From: "Stephen W. Bridge" <> Subject: Swedish burial laws To CryoNet From Steve Bridge, Alcor November 1, 1998 In reply to: Message #10667 From: "Thomas Nord" <> Subject: Cryonics legality Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 23:45:06 +0100 >Checking in my Swedish Lawbook I can find Cryonics prohibition here >without the aim to do it, so I've written to the government to change it, >and will put some pressure on as I'm used to. Everyone has to be buried >or cremated within 2 months, special burial allowed if embalmed first. >Transportation out must have clearance from the authorities first to give >to the customs with assurance that Swedish rules of burial will be >followed. Pressuring the authorities for that permission may not be the best way to handle this, Thomas. In fact, in the United States similar burial laws exist and cryonicists have NOT changed them. We operate under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act -- the same law that governs donation of organs for transplant and research, as well as the donation of whole bodies for research (for instance, to medical schools for anatomy classes). In Alcor's case, the member has arranged to donate his body to Alcor for a research project, which consists of keeping his body frozen until we discover if science can learn to revive it. At today's level of understanding, there is no doubt this is experimental. The anatomical donation laws take precedence over the laws of burial, as long as public health standards are maintained. Most industrialized countries have similar laws for the donation of bodies. I would recommend you examine Sweden's laws for that, perhaps with a creative attorney. You might find a pleasant surprise. And next time, ask here on CryoNet first before charging head first at the stone wall of government. Quite often we will know a way that the government itself has left a path around the stone wall. Steve Bridge, Chairman of the Board Alcor Life Extension Foundation Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=10673