X-Message-Number: 22588 Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2003 10:10:30 -0400 From: Thomas Donaldson <> Subject: CryoNet #22574 - #22578 SOME COMMENTS FOR MARK PLUS: As I live now in Australia his comments about getting suspension cases to Scottsdale or the CI clearly need answering. First of all, the fuel problem with international aircraft is agreed by all parties to be temporary and has nothing to do with any more general problems with oil supply. Second, teams and workers from both CI and Alcor have come to Australia to do the initial stages of suspension and take away the patient afterwards. CI has done this most recently; several years ago, Alcor also sent a team. To what extent does this cause a bad suspension? Basically, we have a specially designed system to keep the temperature of the patient close to but slightly above zero C (physical freezing without cryo- protectant would be clearly harmful) and send him/her to the relevant cryonics center. The patient, already cooled down, is put inside a separate container which is then put into the shipping container and surrounded with ice. As you can guess, the inner container is metal and conducts the cold very well. This system even allows inspection by customs inspectors and security staff, if they request it. Moreover, at least one Alcor patient actually travelled while alive to Alcor for likely suspension in the US. As you might guess, he was only barely alive, but alive nonetheless. Speaking for myself alone, I am hoping to do the same. I have dual citizenship in both the US and Australia. As for deterioration while kept cold, even temperatures slightly above freezing make a lot of difference. An Australian patient would basically get the same treatment as a US patient, but with a somewhat longer period before suspension (in the sense of infusion with cryoprotectant or vitrification solution and lowering to temperatures below 0 C). Finally, in terms of expense, yes, the patient pays for the team to fly to Australia ... just as a US patient not living in Scottsdale would pay for a team to come to him and care for him upon his official "death". Best wishes and long long life for all, Thomas Donaldson Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=22588