X-Message-Number: 15510 Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 02:27:02 -0500 From: <> Subject: questions to and answers from doctors and cryonics orgs One of the points that Jeff G has made is that a would-be cryonicist should be able to consult with a prospective cryonics organization somewhat the same way that a patient can consult with his doctor; to this Professor Ettinger replied something to the effect that generally most patients would ask primarily for the odds that the procedure would work. [Either party: please correct me if i'm simplifying your position to the point of distortion.] Actually, it would be reasonable if you could ask your doctors about their treatments, how they assessed your condition, and (why not?) maybe even for pointers to peer-reviewed literature describing repeatable procedures. After all, their billing rates are measured in hundreds per hour, they have all kinds of assistants to help them, and they're protected by a legal monopoly. But many doctors will never explain why a solution is diluted with Mannitol instead of water, because you'll never find out about the Mannitol in the first place so you can't even pose the question. Many doctors may be unable or unwilling to estimate simple parameters like the volume of blood in a body. That is, for many doctors, the _most_ you can get is their estimate of the odds (and don't expect an explanation of their computation---lots probably don't even know how). And if you find any that keep up with the literature, then don't lose their phone numbers. (I truly hope other people have had better experiences.) How does this compare with asking questions to a someone representing a cryonics organization? Well, in contrast to the doctors, officials of cryonics orgs will be paid either next to nothing, or in some cases literally nothing. This includes not just Ettinger, but Fred Chamberlain, Mike Darwin (when he was president of Alcor), i imagine Charles Platt (CryoCare), Edgar Swank, Paul Wakfer (in spearheading donation-supported research efforts) and many others. As far as i know, there are only two real rewards for their work: an enhanced chance for survival for them and their loved ones, and the intellectual satisfaction of putting together and nourishing an organization with a genuine and ambitious humanitarian purpose. I think the situation on cryonet speaks for itself. At least reps from one organization are answering questions much more detailed than many doctors would even consider. {And other orgs may follow suit at some point.} Saul Kent said: if no org is suitable, then go out and start one. (And for anybody who's really new here, he followed his own advice in a very big way with his research outfit.) dan Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=15510