X-Message-Number: 15884
Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 18:42:07 -0500
From: fair4us <>
Subject: What Are We Paying For? (#15870, Sean Kuhlmeyer)

Sean wrote:

>On the issue of who will bring us back--
>
>  Isn t that what we are paying for? Suspension, AND reanimation? Isn t it
>expected that it will probably be our cryonics company that resurrects us?

Good questions.  An analysis of two major cryonics service companies' 
service agreements appears to show that it is the intention of each to try 
to provide reanimation services, but that it is not necessarily what you 
are paying for.  Here are excerpts:

 From "Cryonic Suspension Agreement" on CI's webpage:  "At such time that 
CI determines in its good faith judgment that the Patient can be 
satisfactorily revived and rehabilitated and that the patient's revival and 
rehabilitation are economically practical, CI shall use its best efforts to 
revive and rehabilitate the patient."  And, "The Patient acknowledges that 
CI possesses no current plans for the revival or rehabilitation of any of 
CI's patients, and that CI's calculation of the Suspension Fee does not 
include any amount set aside to pay for the Patient's revival or 
rehabilitation."

I could not find Alcor's current suspension agreement on their web page, 
but this is from a 1997 hard copy:  "When, in Alcor's best good faith 
judgement, it is determined that attempting revival is in the best 
interests of the Member in suspension, Alcor shall attempt to revive and 
rehabilitate the Member.  It is understood by the Member that a careful 
assessment of the risks versus the benefits of a revival attempt will be 
material to determining when to attempt revival."  And, "Alcor does not 
warrant or represent that it is or shall be capable of reviving or 
rehabilitating the suspended Member, or that the Patient Care Fund will be 
adequate to finance the suspended Member's revival and 
rehabilitation."  (Elsewhere in Alcor's agreement it states they place any 
funds left over after suspension expenses, in their Patient Care Fund which 
is for "the procedures of maintenance and, should it become possible, 
revival.")

Both organizations seem to encourage donations above their minimum 
suspension fees.  Both have many terms and conditions in their contracts 
limiting their liability in numerous scenarios that might prevent them from 
reviving a patient, or even keeping them in suspension.  Considering the 
potential unpreventable hazards that exist, these conditions are not at all 
unreasonable.




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