X-Message-Number: 1617
From:  (David Lubkin)
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 93 12:47:11 EST
Subject: CRYONICS Anti-autopsy allies

Now that the Alcor feuding is quieting down, maybe I can get some
interest stirred in legislative action.  My last posting on this
issue was in the middle of the frenzy and was largely ignored.

And while I have great respect for and interest in research on
cryoprotectants, it seems to me that the most severe risks we face
are from the medical and legal communities -- autopsies, ischemic
damage due to delayed biostasis protocols due to medical or legal 
opposition, etc. -- and I'm dismayed that there's not more interest 
in directly tackling the problem (although the recent actions and 
discussions on the PR front are wonderful indirect steps).

Anyway --

Does anyone on the list have any details on the two competing religious
freedom acts?  Over on the Libertarian lists people are debating 
supporting the better of the two, but no one has said anything useful 
about what they are.

It seems to me that the best way to block autopsies is through the
religious freedom angle.  Some states (including New Jersey?) in fact
already have a (partial) religious block on autopsy available.
Unfortunately, this right is neither absolute nor universal.  

I don't think enough people care about the issue for us to move for
legislation head-on, but with one of these general religious freedom 
acts, we may get what we want as a consequence of the act when it gets
interpreted in the courts.

It also might fall out that any interference with a suspension by legal
or medical authorities will become an actionable violation of civil
rights.

So we should lend our support to the effort, and maybe make some friends
in the religious world.  Instead of allying ourselves with the suicide
rights people (who, like us, want to control their own bodies, but are
deathist), perhaps we should look to their opponents.  Convince people
who think suicide is a sin that anything but cryonics IS suicide.  
(Anyone want to buy Pope John Paul a gift subscription to CRYONICS :-> ? )

-- David Lubkin.

PS  Do the Venturists still claim to be a church / religion ?

=========================  =========================

[ Dave, FYI: the Society For Venturism is a religious, scientific, and
  educational 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization (but not a church).
  They distribute wallet cards titled "Certificate of Religious Belief"
  with the text:
    "Pursuant to Section 27491.43 of the government code of the state
    of California, I hereby execute this certificate of religious
    belief:
      My religious belief compels me to oppose any postmortem procedure,
    dissection, or autopsy which would in any way delay, impede, or
    prevent the cryonic preservation of my human remains."
  It then has blank fields for name, date, signature, and address for
  the declarer and two witnesses.
  Also, the information I have on legal support for religious objection
  against autopsy in New Jersey is in message #15 (yes, fifteen) from
  Sept. 1, 1988, which you can retrieve by sending email to me with the
  Subject line "CRYOMSG 15". - KQB ]

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=1617