X-Message-Number: 7446 Date: 07 Jan 97 23:34:18 EST From: Paul Wakfer <> Subject: Re: Autopsy and Unfavorable Circumstance I was very pleased to see Mike Darwin's excellent post on this subject. Though there are many aspects of life about which we differ, this is one subject on which we have independently come to be in full agreement over the years. We are also both, in our different ways, deeply committed to solving the problem. I believe that the only acceptable answer to this problem is for all those who love life to strengthen our resolve, to dig deeply into our pockets, and to fund and execute a research effort to develop a fully- reversible, medically accepted, suspended animation protocol. Yes, this would not *ensure* that every dying person who wished it, obtained the best possible life-saving treatment. But it would produce a medical, cultural environment which would drive strongly in that direction. I am convinced that very soon after suspended animation is perfected terminal patients will win the right to *elect* it, before the damaging agonal process begins. Later, even those who are not near-term terminal, but wish to end their pain and suffering, would gain the right to elect it. Because they would otherwise be guilty of harming potentially living patients, coroners would want to immediately ascertain whether a case was enrolled for suspension or not and if so, very quickly obtain any necessary information from the patient's body in as non-damaging a way as possible and release it as quickly as possible to the waiting medical team. Paramedics would take a different view of cases which now they see as clearly 'dead' and would handle them and rush them to the hospital just as quickly and carefully as they now expedite those who they see as clearly having a 'good chance'. Moreover, I believe that the entire approach of our society to the situation, discovery and handling of those who appear to be near 'death' would change in ways that are hardly imaginable today. All of this can and will occur, and will give us a chance for our dream of vastly extended life, if only we get off our butts, examine our deepest values, tighten our financial belts, and *make* it happen. -- Paul -- Paul Wakfer email: phone:909-481-9620 pager:800-805-2870 HELP TO ACHIEVE - PERFECTED SUSPENDED ANIMATION WITHIN 20 YEARS! Check out the Prometheus Project web site at URL: http://www.prometheus-project.org/prometheus/ Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=7446