X-Message-Number: 1202
From: 
Subject: CRYONICS Terminal Sign-ups
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 92 01:51:11 PDT

To: Cryonet
From: Carlos Mondragon
> Subject: "Terminal Sign-up"

     Brian Wowk defined the problem (CRYOMSG 1190) as:

>     Patients in suspension are a liability, not an asset.  Healthy, 
>living, dues-paying members are what cryonics needs most, not dying 
>people who will soon need suspending (and burn up enormous amounts of 
>volunteer labor in the process).  If anything, we need to more actively 
>*discourage* terminal patients from joining.
 
     Yes, patients in suspension are a liability, but that liability is 
offset by their suspension funds (assuming our minimum required funding is 
enough).  The larger patient assets get, the stronger and safer we will 
be.  More patients also yield greater economies of scale, which we are now 
just beginning to benefit from.  These "added" suspensions also provide us 
with more skill, experience and training -- for future cases.

     The problem is that persons who sign up in the last year of their 
first life cycle do not pay the dues and otherwise support the 
organization.  Thus, long term healthy members end up inadvertently 
subsidizing those who will need suspension relatively soon.  

     Patient funds can only be used for expenses directly related to 
patient care (dewars, nitrogen, etc.).  Since dues and contributions from 
healthy members must support the day to day operations (utilities, non-
patient-care salaries, and most importantly *our emergency response 
capability*) more living-dues-paying members are of much greater immediate 
value to their peers than additional patients in dewars.

     We don't want to discourage last minute sign-ups for the reasons 
above, and because, after all we are here to save lives.  Our challenge is 
to come up with a workable way to make the situation more equitable.

     Keeping in mind that we can't (legally) institute any fees which are 
based on actuarial considerations, the problem is rather sticky.  I've 
heard several interesting suggestions, but they all had one or another 
fatal flaw.  

     Please call or write if you've got the answer!

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