X-Message-Number: 8498
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #8469 - #8470
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 00:00:55 -0700 (PDT)

 i

Hi everyone!

First of all, David Brandt-Erickson deserves our gratitude for carefully
following all the ins and outs of the euthanasia debate, both here and in 
Australia.

THESE ISSUES BEAR VERY MUCH ON OUR OWN PLANNING. For instance, it is only
particular ways of providing "lethal" doses of drugs which would  fit easily
with suspension done immediately afterwards (or during? Cooldown and removal

of blood with replacement by a second protective solution has not been discussed
as a possible means for euthanasia). For cryonicists, the issue hangs on some
specifications (which may become enshrined in law) which most noncryonicists
think are subsidiary and unimportant. 

Second, for Brett Corlett:

Unfortunately no cryonics group, even now, is large enough to support all the
financial reserves and requirements mandated for ANY corporation offering
life insurance. These restrictions require much more financing than any group
has, even counting the funds in its control to pay for suspension of present
patients. They also require other financial securities and restrictions. 

That is why your scheme is not offered by any cryonics group, and we must fall
back on existing insurors. Yes, it would be nice if we could do it the way
you describe. For now, however, we must be satisfied that we can do it AT ALL.

Insurance of some kind will be needed by anyone who can't simply pay the 
required amount immediately. The problem is simply that until you've raised
enough money, you have a small but measurable risk of death: by disease, by
accident, or even by murder. Small, yes, but insurance companies try to
measure such risks and charge for insurance proportionately. This is true
even for someone 20 years old. Moreover, there is another event that can 
impact your saving plans very strongly: you may become injured or damaged
so that your earning power (and so, your ability to save) is decreased,
even though you remain alive. At the same time, if you also have insurance
for DISABILITY, you may be able to pay your insurance but not dispense with
it because you've saved enough. (I have benefited myself from just this!).

For someone who dreams of suspension and the future, a crippling car accident
could easily put a stop to any dreams at all, and leave them in a wheelchair.
In the end, I would suggest that someone wanting suspension take out a
permanent life insurance policy for the amount required, AND a Disability 
Insurance Policy which insures them against loss of their ability to work at
their profession. After that it is time to start saving. Of course, if you
keep these both in force until you actually HAVE enough to pay for suspension,
then it's appropriate to think about paying for your suspension outright and
asking for a refund of accumulated contributions from your life insurance
company. The Disability Policy should be maintained as long as possible.

			Best and long long life,

				Thomas Donaldson

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