X-Message-Number: 28059
From: 
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 22:43:30 EDT
Subject: Terminal moves

Six weeks ago Marta Sandburg wrote of the problems of moving terminal  

patients close to CI or ALCOR from distant lands. (Full text at end.)  Many of 
her 
points were so strong they just left me thinking. Perhaps I  can make 
suggestions that help on a couple.
 
>1. Airlines don't like taking terminally ill patients
 
In my limited experience there is a time a few weeks before the end when  one 
can plausibly travel.

2. Terminally ill patients don't like to be transported
 
Understandable, but if it makes long term survival more likely some may  want 
it anyway.

3. The USA don't like accepting terminally ill foreigners
 
A real problem.  But CI is in a Detroit suburb, and Detroit is just  across 
the river from Windsor, Ontario, Canada.  Canada may take  "Commonwealth" 
patients more readily, especially if they claim to have friends  or relatives 

there.  And I don't think there is much trouble bringing a  "corpse" into the 
US.

4. Friends and relatives don't like having their dying relatives  whisked 
away to a foreign country
 
Yes, but see (2). 

5. Do you have any idea of what a moth worth of health care costs for a  
terminally ill foreigner in USA?

I'd try for minimal care in a Canadian hospice, paliative only.  As  I've 

said before, the last few weeks are no fun and medical care props up one  system
while all the others deteriorate and in the end you collapse like the One  
Hoss Shay. Better to go before you suffer so much and while most systems are  
still good. (Obviously this is a general statement and there will be many  

exceptions. Our  US Puritans won't allow the Brompton (SP?)  coctail of heroin,
alcohol, cocaine and fruitjuice, which makes the last weeks  actually fun in 

civilized places, so the suffering part may not apply. And of  course friends 
and 
family will be an overarching consideration sometimes.   But the way I read 

Yuri's data, damage from cold ischemia gets significant  after eight hours, and
you can't stop long at dry ice temperatures and  airlines won't fly you in 

liquid nitrogen. So I think your chances are *much*  better if you expire just 
an 
hour away from CI/Alcor. Unless it is possible to  start storage organizations 
in Europe, Australia etc.
 
>It isn't an option unless there is a compelling reason AND you have a  good 
friend who is willing to give up their life for the duration (they have  to 
arrange everything before the trip and then stay with you until you are  
dead).

I know.  I have done it.

Marta

Good for  you.
 
Alan
 
 
 

Message  #27922
From: "marta sandberg"  <>
Subject: Terminal move
Date: Mon, 08  May 2006 12:44:03 +0800

There are a number of problems in relocating to  USA as you are close to 
death.

They include
1. Airlines don't  like taking terminally ill patients
2. Terminally ill patients don't like  to be transported
3. The USA don't like accepting terminally ill  foreigners
4. Friends and relatives don't like having their dying relatives  whisked 
away to a foreign country
5. Do you have any idea of what a  moth worth of health care costs for a 
terminally ill foreigner in  USA?

These are just the first five reasons I could think of.

It  isn't an option unless there is a compelling reason AND you have a good  
friend who is willing to give up their life for the duration (they have to  
arrange everything before the trip and then stay with you until you are  
dead).

I know.  I have done  it.

Marta






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