X-Message-Number: 31645 From: "John de Rivaz" <> Subject: UK proposes Coroners and Justice Bill - a cryonics friendly ... Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:12:36 +0100 [Extended version of item first reported by Sebastian Melmoth in Longevity Report] From Times on Line: Coroners will consider faith issues when deciding how to determine the cause of a death and, where possible, will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning rather than an invasive autopsy. Muslim and Jewish communities object to invasive post mortems because they conflict with religious beliefs about the sanctity of the body. The announcement by the Ministry of Justice is part of the biggest overhaul of the death certification and coroners system for more than one hundred years. Bridget Prentice, a junior justice minister, said: "The loss of a loved one is extremely difficult for any family to deal with. For some individuals and members of faith groups, the thought of an invasive post mortem can compound the grief and distress, particularly when the procedure is against the tenets of the individual's faith." more on http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6140789.ece?Submitted=true Note that the deceased's representatives have to pay L500 ($700) for the scan which would add to cryopreservation costs, but this is a small price for the deceased to provide to avoid being violated by dissection. The wording is a little confusing, but I suggest that "... for some individuals and faith groups" means "some individuals<comma> and individuals who are members of faith groups<comma>". The story is also covered on http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8009767.stm where it says >> A trial has seen pathologists using MRI scanners instead in Greater Manchester. It will be extended across the UK next year if the Coroners and Justice Bill completes its Parliamentary passage. << I would therefore urge all UK cryonicists to write to their MPs asking them to support the Coroners and Justice Bill. It is very aptly named in my view. You can find the name and contact details of your local MP here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4018047 -- 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 Content-Type: text/html; [ AUTOMATICALLY SKIPPING HTML ENCODING! ] Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=31645