X-Message-Number: 25889
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 22:51:20 -0500
From: Joseph Bloch <>
Subject: Living Wills and Cryonics

Hey, my fellow cryonauts,

Obviously, the Terri Schiavo case in Florida has brought the subject of 
living wills into conversation.

Up until now, my attitude has always been, "keep me on that respirator 
as long as you possibly can; I don't care what my quality of life is 
like, I want to keep breathing as long as possible, just in case I'm the 
one-in-a-million who wakes up." However, now that I'm signed up for 
cryonic suspension, I'm wondering if that question hasn't become a lot 
more complicated.

I'm no doctor, nor a lawyer. But I have to ask, is it possible to be in 
a situation where I am statistically less likely to be revived as time 
wears on? (I.e., is it the case that it's possible for the brain to 
deteriorate while in a coma or persistive vegetative state?) Obviously 
I'm aware that no one has yet been revived, but assuming it's possible 
(I wouldn't be signed up for cryonics if I didn't hold to that 
assumption), I want to maximize my chances of it being successful.

What sort of language would I use in that case? "I want to be kept on 
life support except and unless it will directly lead to a deterioration 
of the physical integrity of my brain"?

Anyone else thought of this? Any attorneys here with a thought or two? 
I've taken all this effort to sign up for cryonics. I don't want to have 
it screwed up by my lack of planning allowing politicians and judges to 
let my brain turn to tapioca while they dither.

Joseph

Enhance your body "beyond well" and your mind "beyond normal":
http://www.humanenhancement.com

New Jersey Transhumanist Association:
http://www.goldenfuture.net/njta

PostHumanity Rising:
http://transhumanist.blogspot.com/

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