X-Message-Number: 6581
From:  (MR RONALD   SELKOVITCH)
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 00:18:52, -0500
Subject: Prometheus Royalties

Ettinger says:

<a $50,000 royalty would probably push the total for a neuro> <suspension FAR>
<above $100,000, since the new procedure itself is almost sure to be more
expensive than present procedures>

In fact it would be worse than that if the individual patient may or may
not qualify for the 'Prometheus procedure'.
The organization would have to maintain two systems, an old procedure and
the new one, which of course raises the overhead cost.
The organization is then faced with the ethical problem of applying a
procedure which is certain to cause damage while the new equipment is
available and probably idle.
I suspect, and I may be wrong, that every patient will receive the best
treatment, royalty or not. When the suspension team is faced with a
conflict between honoring the patent rights, or giving the patient the best
procedure possible, I have little doubt which will win.
In fact, I have just reviewed my contract with Alcor. In the paragraph
titled 'Duties of Alcor' it says:

'Alcor shall then,to the extent possible, and feasible, use its best
efforts and technology to begin post mortem cardiopulmonary support and
induction  of hypothermia in an attempt to minimize further deterioration ...'

I suspect that all the organizations have similar contracts and
would have no option but to use the new procedure on all their patients if
it is available to them.

I suggest that the idea of individual royalties be dropped and a blanket
royalty for each organization adopted.


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