X-Message-Number: 16502
From: 
Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2001 17:24:18 EDT
Subject: Swayze possibilities

James Swayze has been public about his predicament, so before broaching the 
following thoughts to the Cryonics Institute's Board of Directors, I am 
making them public for feedback from James or others, and correction of any 
mistakes I may have made.

For late comers, Mr. Swayze some years ago broke his neck in an accident 
(possibly in part as a result of his own recklessness) and became a 
quadriplegic, although retaining some use of his arms. (He can use a 
computer.) There have been other medical complications, and he lives with 
appallingly severe impairments, pain, and danger. But he retains a fighting 
spirit, along with considerable intellectual and artistic assets. He cannot 
afford cryopreservation arrangements, but desperately wants this chance. Some 
old and new friends have pledged some donations toward this, but far short of 
what is needed.

CI already has a policy-very rarely implemented so far-whereby a member can 
contribute services in lieu of cash toward his membership fee and suspension 
fee, when appropriate. But there has to be real service, a real quid pro quo. 
CI as an organization cannot engage in charity, cannot give away its members' 
assets. Any payments or credits for service must be genuine value-for-value, 
based on market conditions.

Of course, value estimates can sometimes be rather rough. For example, Alcor 
in the past has been willing to "give" suspension fee credit on the basis of 
expected valuable publicity. Who knows how much benefit would really have 
accrued if Fred Pohl had accepted a "free" suspension? But it would have been 
a good-faith business judgment, as was the case with the magazine essay 
contest and the "free" suspension.

But in Mr. Swayze's case there are special complications.

His income and assets are minimal, and if he obtains any new income or 
assets, the state in which he resides will reduce his welfare payments by the 
same amount. Therefore-subject to correction by people more knowledgeable in 
the law-I suggest the following possibility.

His compensation could be deferred, being realized only when CI actually 
suspends him. Hence he would not have to report his accumulating credit as 
income, and CI would not have to pay payroll taxes. Since he would be working 
at home, on his computer, and with PR people, and not on our premises, I 
don't think we would have to put him on the Workmen's Comp list. I don't 
think we would have to report the value of his services as income. After his 
death and suspension, CI might have to pay payroll taxes, and his estate 
would have to report the income. 

Several questions remain. 

What happens if his work becomes unsatisfactory, or he becomes too ill to 
work, or if he dies before accumulating full suspension credit? Some 
tentative ideas:

CI should have the right, in our own good faith judgment, to terminate the 
arrangement at any time by paying in cash any accumulated credits and 
canceling any other obligations. Mr. Swayze could also terminate the 
arrangement at any time and request cash payment for past services.

If he were to die or become unable to work, before accumulating enough credit 
for a standard suspension, then CI would provide a cheaper suspension-if 
necessary, something like chemical fixation or freeze drying, which are on 
our research agenda in any case. There could be a minimum work period 
required (five years?).

As far as I can see at the moment, that covers most of the bases. Doubtless 
others will have further objections or constructive suggestions.
 
Before stopping, let me reiterate some of the possibilities in this 
situation, some unusual features of Mr. Swayze's situation. 

First, most people find it difficult to understand that a "normal" or "good" 
life is almost nothing, compared to the potential of indefinitely extended 
life in an unlimited future. They find it much easier to understand the loss 
when a baby dies, or when a young and healthy man is tragically stricken. In 
Mr. Swayze's case we are talking about someone with exceptional potential at 
the time of the tragedy-an airplane pilot at an early age, tall, handsome, 
and gifted, the world his oyster and then cruelly snatched away. And now-drum 
roll-another chance! 

There are quite a few handicapped people, dealt a rotten hand the first time 
around. Unfortunately, most of them are poor, but not all. Two signed-up 
cryonicists are 
blind men with Ph.D.s. And what about dying babies? We could probably offer a 
somewhat lower price for infants. Don't bury their chances! 

Eventually it may sink in that even "old" people dying "natural" deaths are 
missing almost everything. But someone like James Swayze can provide the 
drama and the personal detail to make a difference in public relations. And 
even if we only save his life, that's important too, if only for our own 
morale. Esprit de corps and all that.

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
http://www.cryonics.org

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