X-Message-Number: 8773
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 20:29:06 -0800
From: American Cryonics Society <>
Subject: Cryonics: Chances Of Survival

Saul Kent and I have substantial agreement that the value of cryonics
research is in REALLY improving the individual's chances.  Success in
suspended animation research may be longer in coming, and more expensive
than some believe.  There will surely be resistance to its application.
Research must be supported by cryonicists, but we must dig in our heals for
a long effort, and not be discouraged by early disappointments.

In message #8763 Saul Kent replies to my previous post.
>
>        Jim Yount says that:
>         "To me the value of research is in REALLY improving MY chances."

>        I agree with this.  However, other factors are also important in
>improving our chances.  They include greater credibility for cryonics, greater
>acceptance of cryonics in society,  the passage of laws allowing human
>cryopreservation before legal death, and a greater number of people
>committed to the idea.

>        I assume that research will lead to perfected suspended animation, >
>which will lead to all of the above, which, in turn, will improve our
>chances of  survival, not only by having a perfected method to preserve us,
>but also by improving our chances of being preserved by that method, and
>improving
>our chances of  revival after we're preserved.  I further believe it will
>lead to higher funding for anti-aging research, which will improve our chances
>of survival without the need for cryonics.


This may depend on what form the perfected suspended animation takes.
Suspended animation of relative short duration would help us a little on
image and perhaps future funding, but wouldn't REALLY improve MY chances
(or at least not much).

If a human subject can be frozen today and thawed tomorrow, or in ten
years, or 100 years, then such a significant advance should ULTIMATELY lead
to all the good things you predict.  On a short term basis, we are apt to
encounter at least as much resistance to acceptance and practice as the
prospect of human cloning or genetically altered strawberries.  However, I
would gladly exchange our present problems of slow and painful growth for
the battle over acceptance of perfected suspended animation!

>        My assumption that research will lead to perfected suspended
>animation is based upon the fact that I have already funded research which
>has moved us closer to suspended animation, and my intention to continue
>funding that research until it *is* perfected.  There are a good number of
>people in
>the  cryonics community who can accelerate the timetable for perfected
>suspended
>animation by investing their money in research as I have done.  I urge them
>to do so.

In talking with many people about cryonic suspension I have found that
there is an expectation that we are doing research, or supporting such
efforts.  I am concern, however, that we may have unrealistically high
expectations of "early returns" from this research.  Since I first became
involved with cryonics in the mid 1970s, I have heard many overly
optimistic predictions as to how soon reversible freezing would come about.
I am glad, Saul, that you are "putting your money where your mouth is" and
doing so much to support cryonics research.  I hope that you and other
research supporters will continue in that endeavor even if early efforts
prove more difficult and costly than you expect.

Long life and love,

Jim Yount



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(650)254-2001
                      FAX (650)967-4444
P.O. Box 1509
Cupertino, CA 95015
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