X-Message-Number: 28148
From: 
Subject: Re: British Columbia Anti-Cryonics Law Update
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 21:34:13 US/Eastern

  An cryonicist living in Burnaby, BC has received the following 
letter from Janet Ricciuti, which sounds less friendly than what
I have heard before. She has apparently only heard from the
cryonics organizations and "one or two of their lobbying members".
And she says " there has been virtually zero requests for
these services", which may mean that Chuck Grodzicki is the
"virtual" in the "virtually zero". It also indicates that my 
"letter-writing campaign" has not been much of a success. 

  Her tone does not bode well for the upcoming meeting on 
July 6th. If anyone is prepared to write, I suggest that the
emphasis be on the fact that cryonics organizations and 
cryonicists do not hold funeral directors liable. And that
hold-harmless agreements are available if that will make
the funeral director more comfortable. 

       -- Ben Best 

**********************************************************

Dear Jason,
There is no law in BC that prohibits a funeral director from preparing
and transferring human remains for cryogenic suspension. The Funeral
Service Association of BC has a province wide toll free line.
We receive approximately 350 - 450 calls per month. I have responded to
these telephone calls for the past 15 years and I have never received
one telephone call from either a consumer wishing to obtain these
services from a funeral director or a funeral director requesting
information about purchasing the appropriate supplies or equipment to
provide such a service. The only enquiries and calls I have received
are from the very active lobbyists representing both the US Cryonics
institutes and one or two of their lobbying members. I have repeatedly
advised them that I have been advised by the province's regulating
authority that there is no law in BC under the CIFSA that prohibits a
funeral director from preparing human remains for transfer to either one
of the cryogenic institutes. Whether or not a funeral home offers such
a service is strictly a business decision that they as business owners
are free to make. Since there has been virtually zero requests for
these services, I would think funeral providers would find it hard to
justify the inherent costs associated with providing such a service
including the purchase of a heart-lung resuscitator; free radical
inhibitors; nitric oxide synthase inhibitors; anticoagulants; pressors
etc. Future liability issues may also be a concern whereby should
resuscitation be attempted and not successful could the funeral home be
liable for the preparation services they provided?

Should you require further information regarding the Cremation,
Interment and Funeral Services Act, you should contact the regulating
authority directly. Their website is www.bpcpa.ca

Regards,
Janet Ricciuti, Executive Director
Funeral Service Association of B.C.
Suite 211 - 2187 Oak Bay Ave.
Victoria, B.C. V8R 1G1

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