X-Message-Number: 27953
Date: Fri, 19 May 2006 10:18:21 -0400 (EDT)
From: Charles Platt <>
Subject: exasperation

I guess I should apologize if my post regarding the need for
standby (in response to Henry Hirsch yesterday) sounded
exasperated or impatient. Personally, when I see someone
suggesting that people don't need to bother with standby
arrangements, I feel about the same as if I saw someone
advising cancer patients to rely solely on the power of
positive thinking because medical intervention is
unnecessary.

In my mind the debate over the need for standby and rapid
intervention was settled more than 20 years ago. I find it
incomprehensible that someone would take all the trouble to
establish arrangements for cryopreservation, yet would do
nothing to protect the brain after cardiac arrest. This is
just my opinion, of course.

I believe Mr. Hirsch is entitled to his opinions, and he
should have the right to inflict as much damage on his brain
as he wishes. What troubles me was that he gave "advice" to
other people on what they should do. In my scheme of things
advice should only be given where the advisor is extremely
well informed, and even then, it's preferable to present
someone with information and allow the person to make up his
own mind. For this reason I never advise anyone whether to
choose CI, Alcor, ACS, or no cryonics arrangements at all.

--Charles Platt

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