X-Message-Number: 3244
From:   (Marc Atkin)
Newsgroups: sci.cryonics
Subject: Re: Frozen alive
Date: 11 Oct 1994 02:44:55 GMT
Message-ID: <37cu77$>
References: <> <37cnmu$>


In article <37cnmu$>  (Andre 
Robatino) writes:
>KRISTIAN HEIDE () wrote:
>: Has anyone yet taken the step of voluntarely being frozen down while still 
>: alive? Uhm, well... I guess there would be a problem with the law, wouldn't 
>: it? 
>
>  It's illegal to freeze someone until they're legally dead.

Although I had suspected as much, I find this to be a severe
encroachment on my personal freedom. If I want to die (leaving aside
for a moment that this "dieing" is really not dieing, since it's not
permanent), I should be allowed to do so. When faced with a
potentially terminal disease, being frozen is just as viable a
treatment alternative as any other. The chances of recovery are
probably as good or better than a lot of the riskier surgical operations.
Can I not choose to undergo an operation that will almost certainly
kill me, if I decide to do so? Why then can't I decide to be frozen,
where the odds are far better? That just isn't logical. 

What exactly is the legal situation on this? If I myself take the
action that will end of my life (like switching on a machine or taking
some drugs), is it still illegal? Are bystanders *required* by law to
prevent me from doing so? Do the laws pertaining to this vary from country
to country? If so, it might be possible to go to another country to
have the procedure performed.

If race car driving and sky-diving are legal, I think voluntarily
undergoing cryonic freezing before one is declared "legally dead"
should be as well. The chances of survival are comparable...

   Marc Atkin            //
U of Massachusetts      //                " Goosnargh. "
   at Amherst       \\ //
   \X/

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