X-Message-Number: 19659
From: "AlanSinclair" <>
References: <>
Subject: Re: Mike Darwin unavailable
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2002 08:13:27 +0100

I had heard that Mike Darwin was no longer working for SA and I emailed
him as a friend to see if he would act as adviser for Cryonics Europe
A message came back to say he could not even reply to my email because
of a contractual clause with Suspended Animation which affectively will keep
one of our greatest assets out of cryonics for two years,

If this is true what ever happened to sharing knowledge?

He is prohibited from providing any service, or even advice, relating to
cryonics, for the next two years, because he recently left his position at
Suspended Animation Inc, and the CEO of this  company, David Shumaker,
has vowed to enforce a clause in Mike's contract  forbidding him from doing
anything in cryonics.

Surly this can not be true?

If it is, it  has very serious implications, because Mike's unmatched
knowledge
could  make a life-and-death difference during a cryopreservation standby or
perfusion.

Does Mr. Shumaker really intend to risk the lives of innocent  people in the
states as well as the UK, just for the sake of enforcing a non-compete
clause?

I wonder if  anyone is willing to comment on this."


What happened to WE MUST OVERCOME DEATH TOGETHER?

Mike has more to offer the cryonics community than almost any other person
on this planet so why gag him?

Is it that some people in cryonics are so power crazy that they see having
the sole rights to overcome death is the ultimate aphrodisiac or just money
mad.

I think this has been a fundamental problem with Alcor and now AS, they must
be the best and bugger the rest, I had hoped this had changed in resent
months.

When I came into cryonics fifteen years ago I was surrounded by people that
cared about there fellow men and our only concern was how to get to the
future.

We had a common goal?

I am very sorry to say only CI have practice this moral behaviour on a day
to
day bases they do care and share, something others need to learn.

The task we have is difficult enough without cutting out its best people.

My understanding of the situation is this.PLEASE NOTE MIKE REFUSES
TO TALK TO ME OR GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION, NOTHING IN THIS
LETTER COMES FROM MIKE OR HIS ASSOCIATES.

 Mike became disenchanted with the two people running Suspended Animation:

David Shumaker, who has been a member of American Cryonics Society for
many years, and David Hayes, an Alcor member.

Mike says he was fired by Shumaker.

Shumaker says that Mike quit. Either way, Mike isn't working for
Suspended Animation any more.

 Mike's contract with Suspended Animation contains a disastrous non-compete
clause. After he leaves the company, he is not allowed to say ANYTHING
about cryonics to ANYONE. He is not allowed to provide cryonics advice, or
services, of any kind, for the remainder of the contract period (at least
two years). If he violates this provision, Shumaker has vowed to take him
to court.

I find it almost unbelievable that anyone would be so small minded to impose
such a clause on the cryonics community and I would be interested to hear
from
the people concerned.

 During the last few months, two cases at Alcor have gone exceptionally
well. A major reason is that Mike was the team leader. Although he has a
well known tendency to exhibit mood swings, no one can compare with him in
an emergency situation, and no one has a fraction of his knowledge and
experience.

 So, what happens (you may wonder) if someone dies tomorrow? It could be
someone for whom Mike has a special affection, such as Curtis Henderson,
or someone of great importance to cryonics, such as Saul Kent or Bill
Faloon. Or, EVEN WORSE ME or a cryonics europe member

We have both Alcor & CI members so both could be hurt.

Will Mike be allowed to offer advice to maximize the chance of this person
receiving an optimal cryopreservation? Definitely not. Shumaker won't allow
it

CAN THIS BE TRUE?.

 By applying a cut-throat business tactic to a field in which such tactics
are inappropriate, Shumaker effectively has reduced the chances of anyone
being well cryopreserved during the next two years. In a borderline
situation this could make the difference between life and death. How's
that for a contractual provision? It can kill people!

We must get back to looking out for one another no matter who our service
provider may be or who we work for.

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