X-Message-Number: 20305
Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2002 22:58:12 -0700
From: Mike Perry <>
Subject: Criminals and Retards

This is a comment on Iggy Dybal's message, #20292.

The issue is raised that a criminal facing execution may have cryonic 
suspension arrangements in place. Would existing cryonics organizations 
honor such arrangements, assuming it was possible (suspension prepaid, for 
instance)? The case has not come up in real life, to my knowledge, but I 
know of no policy by any organization that would forbid the suspension 
being carried out. The issue then is raised that this might be very bad 
from a public relations standpoint, particularly if the subject expressed 
an intention to commit more crimes in the future. A suspension, however, 
would provide an opportunity to cure the offender of whatever it was that 
produced the criminal tendencies (I discount such possibilities as a 
mystical free will). Thus I would favor such a course. The same would apply 
in the case of a retarded person or anyone suffering any disability. A 
hostile public could, I think, be dealt with provided the course of action 
to be taken, including possible future treatment, was not opposed by the 
patient.

A possible flip side of this is that a criminal who felt it important to be 
able to continue bad behavior would not want to sign up. I hope, needless 
to say, that few people would be so stubbornly, absurdly pathological. 
Another thought, though, is that cryonic suspension, if it were ever widely 
accepted, could itself be used as a kind of sentencing, the object being to 
keep a dangerous criminal "locked in place" until such time as his/her 
problem would prove treatable.

Mike Perry

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