X-Message-Number: 7146 From: Newsgroups: sci.cryonics Subject: Re: Idle Speculation Date: Mon, 11 Nov 96 22:19:57 -0500 Message-ID: <> References: <565vhh$> Anonymous <> writes: >The public, the government, the media would NEVER allow a death row inmate to be cryonically preserved, would they? > >But what legal grounds would be used to prevent it? The death penalty does not explicitly prescribe eternal death. I started a discussion on exactly this idea some months back. Since the government doesn't yet recognize cryoic preservaton as workable, there'd prpbably be little objection to a post-execution preservation, unless, like me, you both believe cryonics can work, and believe in capital punishment. (Some people should not be given a second chance at life.) But a post-execution suspension has one benefit going for it....you know exactly when the person is going to die, so standby is not a problem. On the other hand, some forms of execution are more suspension-friendly than others. The electric chair pumps enough voltage and current through the body, and espically the *brain,* heating it greatly, that what's left isn't worth the effort. Cyanide gas leaves dangerous traces throught the body that would be a great danger to a suspension team. (And might also cause irretrevablebrain damage, too.) The damage from a head shot where the firing squad is used, is esy to imagine.... But lethal injections involve metabolism slowing barbituates not unlike those used in a suspension anyway. In this situation, the state has almost done the first step for you (if they'll let you have the body promptly). So if you plan to commit a capital crime, and then be frozen, I guess your best bet is where they use the needle.... Frank Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=7146