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. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=6581