X-Message-Number: 5399
Date: Mon, 11 Dec 1995 11:09:14 -0500 (EST)
From: Charles Platt <>
Subject: The Same Old Innuendo

> From:  (hEpCaT)

> The split at Alcor that resulted in the founding of the CryoCare group of
> organizations resulted from Alcor's board refusing to have anything to do
> with Mike Darwin.

This is a gross oversimplification and willful misunderstanding of a 
complex situation. (But what else did I expect?)

I personally left Alcor before there was anyplace else to go, and Mike
Darwin had nothing to do with it. I was unprotected by any cryonics
organization for six months. Presumably, this must have meant I was quite
dissatisfied as a result of various problems at the time. Most of these
problems were discussed exhaustively here on CryoNet. I suppose I could
start dragging those old posts out again, just as Dave has dragged out
that nice little item from his lover Mr. Mondragon, but what would be the
point? Soon we would have Pizer dragging out HIS old posts, and Darwin,
Harris, Peters, et al dragging out THEIR old posts. And we would have to
endure, for the SECOND time, a very long and acrimonious dispute that
didn't make anyone look very good. And do you remember what happened at
the end of that dispute, David Cosenza? CryoCare was formed, and a bunch
of people left Alcor! 

I realize it is inconceivable to you that anyone could have a valid
opinion different from your own, but in fact there are excellent reasons
why some of us, just as well informed as yourself, choose very firmly to
belong to a different organization from yours. You insist, again and
again, on challenging us for our reasons. Thus far, we have preferred not
to talk about it that much. Why? Because conventional medicine is not a
simple, reliable business, and unconventional or experimental medicine
(i.e. cryonics) entails many more opportunities for error. Yes, errors of
judgment have been made, by many people. Some of the errors were
financial; others were medical. Most have been alluded to in various ways
(e.g. the pages of Cryonics magazine). 

My wife's father is a surgeon. He runs his department at a major hospital 
in the New York area. He has made MANY errors. This is the nature of the 
business. I'm sure that if we knew all about every case he has handled, 
we could ruin his reputation by trading half-baked accusations.

This is what you're asking for, David. It would hurt Alcor just as much as
any other organization and serve no purpose--because the fact is, no one
has ever acted with malice or bad intentions, so far as I can tell, and I
have listened to a LOT of cryonics history. Patient welfare is at the top
of everyone's list. Saving lives is at the top of everyone's list.

Moreover, everyone I have ever talked to in this business (and I have met
almost all the activists) has shown a spirit of generous, positive
dedication. 

With one possible exception, David.

You.

--Charles Platt


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