X-Message-Number: 27200 From: Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 18:20:20 EDT Subject: Self regulation / licensing cryonics In a message dated 10/12/2005 5:00:20 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, Jordan Sparks writes: @cryonet.org writes: I know this has been brought up before, but what if we come up with our own regulations for the cryonics industry? We could have our regulations available for any lawmakers, state agencies, etc. It would hopefully give them guidelines to follow and show them that we really have thought it through. Each cryonics provider could get 'licensed' by the self-regulating group. I would like to see the following: 1. License the cryonics storage facility 2. License individual members of any first response team 3. License individuals performing the actual suspension 3. Guidelines for personal and public safety 4. Guidelines for financial matters (Rudi writes) Actually, I think this IS probably a good idea. Although certainly nontrivial in execution, like most other worthwhile endeavors. I would be willing to be on a committee to help promulgate such standards. Although I certainly don't want or need the potential hassles involved, nor does any legitimate cryonics organization, or activists, who is smart enough to actually help make this idea a reality. And it will probably die on the vine for now, for lack of person to drive and champion the idea. But if we at least THINK about it, we will be better prepared to move forward at some point in the future. But, conceptually, if we have an UMBRELLA organization looking out the credibility of cryonics in general, with reasonable standards of "due diligence," this COULD be a good thing. (I hear all my fellow antiauthoritarian libertarian cryonicists squealing already! I bet Charles Platt will not be delighted with the idea...but I could be wrong.) Here are my reasons for this observation: 1. Over time, there will be calls for "Regulation," (or rather MORE regulation) of cryonics organizations. We have already seen this with the AZ legislature AND the MI Department of Professional Regulation. (I think it was the DPR...or their equivalent.) While it was handled in both cases with an arguably acceptable result, we KNOW this battle...indeed, more of a potential war...is far from over. The single biggest threat to cryonics over deep time is probably not the technical, but political issues. Leon Kass and his cronies think it is good idea if we age and die...and these arrogant and wrong headed folks WILL be taking aim at us eventually. 2. Showing a good faith effort at self regulation could be a immunization against more draconian and horrible regulations. (Yes, I hate the R word even MORE than most of you on this list, I promise. Dealing with the DPR and NASD who provide oversight over my securities work is a constant challenge to those of us in the investment industry. But as bad as these guys are...and I pretty much hate them...I hate FRAUD even more. Buy me a beer or a cup of coffee sometime and I will tell you the fascinating tale of why this is an emotional issue with me.) 3. Maybe some simple, common sense verbiage could be drafted which would at least be a start on this concept, without too much controversy. Sample: "We the undersigned, in consideration of being licensed by the CRYONICS OVERSIGHT BOARD OF STANDARDS, do hereby declare the following to be true: A. Patients are preserved to the best of our abilities, given the current technology and circumstances surrounding the deanimation of the patient. B. Funds are set aside in an separate Patient Care Account for the long term maintenance and possible resuscitation of the patient. This amount is currently ________. These funds are set aside in the following manner: ___________________________________________. There is a protection for these funds assured by the following protocols: _____________________________________________. There is an independent review and audit of these funds every ___ months by the following CPA firm: _____. The funds are managed and invested as follows: ______________________________________. C. I think you get the idea. See, this is becoming a time sponge already. And it is just in the conceptual stages. And I have cryonics prospects I should be calling. About 30 of them in files, with them or me dropping the ball at times...mostly them, but I understand, because this decision and mechanics thereof takes months and sometimes years to effect. Any observations? Anyone join me on the CRYONICS OVERSIGHT BOARD OF STANDARDS, or want to head this up? For Centuries, Rudi Hoffman CFP CLU Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" [ AUTOMATICALLY SKIPPING HTML ENCODING! ] Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=27200