X-Message-Number: 1449 From: Graham Wilson <> Subject: Cryonics Date: Tue, 15 Dec 92 15:23:55 WET Re: Legal Suggestions In his reply to my original posting, Thomas Donaldson suggests that it would be catastrophic for the government rather than an institution such as Alcor to be responsible for the operation of cryonic facilities. I believe that complete control by government would probably seem a bad solution to the problem. However, from reading the postings over the last month concerning what has at sometimes seemed- with respect- to be pathetic infighting among Alcor officers and members, I cannot see how such an institution can guarantee to remain solvent and capable of achieving its objectives in the forseeable future. Cryonic patients require some form of legal protection. At the moment the degree of protection remains unclear. However, I cannot see that on their own, cryonic institutions will be in a position to guarantee to deliver what they have promised their members. I imagine that if in 20 years time a cryonics company were to become insolvent the government would be placed under pressure to take over the care of the suspended patients, rather than allow another Chatsworth to happen. Cryonic companies should prepare for such a contingency now, rather than denying it is unlikely that it would ever happen. Graham Wilson -- ********************************************************* * Graham Wilson * * * LL.B. Law III * Coventry University * ********************************************************* [ Graham, FYI: Message #221 (Asilomar Conference Report (Part 2 of 2)) mentions the panel discussion on FOCS (Federation Of Cryonics Societies). One of the major motivations for FOCS was to help the cryonics organizations become self-regulating to avoid abuses and complaints that would attract government regulation. Self-regulation was seen just as the lesser of two evils, not something arising from the warm and fuzzy feelings the separate organizations had for each other! As it turned out, FOCS fizzled and the "tentative agreement" described in message #221 apparently was not even agreed to by all parties there. When more cryonics organizations start sprouting up, any of which could fail and thereby attract government intervention, perhaps the FOCS idea will be reanimated. - KQB ] Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=1449