X-Message-Number: 1797
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: Re: cryonics: #1775-#1781
Date: Sun, 21 Feb 93 11:34:31 PST

To Mike Darwin:

RIGHT ON! My one issue with what you have to say is that of the ULTIMATE
repairability of some of the injuries you describe. But no cryonicist should
forget that the longer they must remain in suspension, the less likely it
is that they will continue in suspension ---- so what is ULTIMATELY possible
may only benefit a very small fraction of those suspended, less than 1%. In
any practical sense, our difference on this issue makes no difference to our
ideas about the importance of research.

Why is it riskier and riskier the longer a suspension lasts? Because the world
isn't a friendly place. Even with the very best investment advisers possible,
vital funds can be unexpectedly lost (not that we can afford the best advisers
possible). Accidents happen at every stage of the process. Even one person
charged with caring for patients in the time you are suspended can somehow,
for perfectly understandable reasons, make a mistake which destroys some or 
all patients under his/her care. And all that, of course, assumes no active
hostility towards us by anyone. It's not necessary to postulate any global
catastrophe in order to find ways in which your own personal suspension can
fail.
			Best and long life,
			   Thomas Donaldson

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