X-Message-Number: 8619
Date: Sat, 20 Sep 1997 20:04:42 -0400
From: "Stephen W. Bridge" <>
Subject: Cryonics hospices

To CryoNet
>From Steve Bridge
September 20, 1997
 
[ I hope that someone can forward this to sci.cryonics for me. SWB]
 
In reply to:   Message #8612
               From: "William R. Cousert" <>
               Newsgroups: sci.cryonics
               Subject: Hospice care at cryonics facilities
               Date: Fri, 19 Sep 1997 14:11:28 -0700
 
> It seems to me that it should be possible to operate a hospice at
> cryonics facilities. This would allow the terminally ill to be quickly
>suspended after death. Why isn't this being done?
>
>William R. Cousert
>
 
 
Several CryoNet readers are no doubt having grim recollections of the one
time this ever happened, William.  Back in 1987, Saul Kent's mother Dora
was moved to Alcor a day or so before her death for exactly the practical
reason of a better suspension.  Unfortunately several legal issues arose,
including the possibility of a conflict of interest -- the local coroner
speculated that Alcor's interest in Mrs. Kent being dead was greater than
its interest in keeping her alive.  Alcor personnel were investigated on
suspicion of hastening her death, and all hell broke loose on California
cryonics for several years.
 
The full story is long and interesting, and also damn frightening for the
people involved at the time; even frightening for me, who was only
involved in making dozens of phone calls for the few months after the
emergency began.  We're not likely to make that kind of move again without
extremely careful legal preparation.
 
There are many practical reasons for not having a true hospice in the
facility as well.  Typical better care can actually be given in a rented
apartment or regular hospice facility nearby, and this has been tried on
occasion.  Moreover, the logistics of moving a patient to another state
when he is terminally ill can be nightmarish.  As one example we have
found -- unless the patient is very wealthy, he may be tied to his home
state by the need to maintain medical insurance (or HMO coverage).
 
Steve Bridge
Chairman of the Board
Alcor Life Extension Foundation

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