X-Message-Number: 3475 Date: Mon, 12 Dec 94 16:23:48 From: mike <> Subject: CRYONICS BC antilaw ----- Original message follows ----- Return-Path: <alcor!mike> Received: from alcor.UUCP by netcomsv.netcom.com with UUCP (8.6.4/SMI-4.1) id XAA12290; Tue, 22 Nov 1994 23:46:43 -0800 Received: by alcor.org; Tue, 22 Nov 94 23:43:15 Message-ID: <> Date: Tue, 22 Nov 94 23:43:15 From: mike <> Sender: To: > Subject: CRYONICS BC antilaw X-Mailer: UGate [Ver. 1.98] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit [apparently this didn't get posted when I originally tried to send it-- here goes again--MP 12/12/94] From: Mike Perry to cryonet Nov. 22, 1994 Recently I wrote a letter to Joan Smallwood, Minister of Housing, Recreation and Consumer Services, British Columbia, regarding the anti-cryonics law. Here is this correspondence, and her reply. September 27, 1994 Joan Smallwood Minister of Housing, Recreation and Consumer Services Parliament Buildings Victoria, British Columbia V8V 1X4 Dear Joan Smallwood: Section 57 of the Cemetery and Funeral Services Act in your province states that: "no person shall offer for sale or sell any arrangement for the preservation or storage of human remains based on cryonics, irradiation or any other means of preservation or storage, by whatever name called, that is offered or sold on the expectation of the resuscitation of human remains at a future time." It's my understanding that this provision is to prohibit "sales activity" relating to cryonics. Apparently this means that TV and newspaper ads would not be allowed, nor telephone solicitations for business, and the like. However, there are certain issues that are unclear to me; here are some questions I hope can be answered. 1. Can a person in BC legally have arrangements for cryonic suspension with some organization, not necessarily in your province or country? 2. If the answer to (1) is "yes" and a person with cryonic arrangements dies in BC, can the cryonic suspension procedure be started in BC, or must the person first be removed to another location? 3. Can a visitor to BC legally give information enabling an interested party to contact a cryonics organization? 4. Can literature relating to cryonics organizations legally be taken within the borders of BC? 5. Could a commercial publication such as *Omni* magazine be sold within the borders of BC if it contained information enabling a reader to contact a cryonics organization? I would greatly appreciate clarification on these issues. Sincerely, [signed] R. Michael Perry, Ph.D. 7895 E. Acoma Dr. #110 Scottsdale, AZ 85260-6916 ********************Letter from Joan Smallwood******************* November 16, 1994 R. Michael Perry, Ph.D. #110 - 7895 E. Acoma Drive Scottsdale, Arizona USA 85260-6916 Dear Michael Perry: Thank you for your letter of September 27, 1994, regarding section 57 of British Columbia's *Cemetery and Funeral Services Act*. You are correct in your understanding that section 57 prohibits any marketing or sales activity of a plan or arrangement, which is based on the expectation that a deceased may be revived at a later date with the use of cryonics or similar technology. I would like to stress, however, that British Columbia's legislation does not prohibit the practice of cryonics. It only prohibits the sale of contracts or plans based on the expectation that human bodies may be revived. In response to your specific questions, I would answer questions 1 and 2 in the affirmative. The answers to questions 3-5 may only be determined on a case by case basis. One must ask: does the oral "information", the written "literature", or the "publication" constitute marketing or sales activity of a plan based on the expectation that the human remains may be resuscitated at a future time? If so, the representations may violate section 57 of British Columbia's *Cemetery and Funeral Services Act*. The Government of British Columbia consulted widely in the development of the *Cemetery and Funeral Services Act*. The statute was passed with the full authority of the Legislature of British Columbia, with section 57 intact. Again, thank you for writing. I hope this information is helpful. Sincerely, [signed] Joan Smallwood Minister Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=3475