X-Message-Number: 27699 From: "John de Rivaz" <> Subject: autopsies Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2006 12:41:53 -0000 To recap on autopsies. Autopsies cost the government money, a lot of it. The pathologist who performs it does so for a fee which the government pays. In common with other professionals, these people have wound up the fee over the years to a high value, even though the basic dissection procedure has remained the same for hundreds of years. Of course the techniques for tests on samples have improved a lot, but samples can usually be obtained by needle biopsies. It is often possible to determine the cause of death without dissection, and many pathologists are sensible people and will do this if that is what the relatives want or the deceased has requested prior to death. Although many cryonicists consider religion to be irrational, its widespread popularity can often be used to advantage. Public disgust at dissections of dead people is also irrational if the subject is not going to be cryopreserved, but it may also be of use. Many people with religious convictions against post mortem dissection can use religious pressure and laws against discrimination. I once heard from a funeral director of a case in England where a public demonstration outside the coroner's offices was sufficient to prevent it. The police did not break up the demonstration because of the risk of race relations problems which could have lead to widespread public disorder. -- Sincerely, John de Rivaz: http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy, Nomad .. and more Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=27699