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. Shop online without a credit card http://www.rocketcash.com RocketCash, a NetZero subsidiary Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=15884