X-Message-Number: 9138
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 19:00:04 -0800
From: American Cryonics Society <>
Subject: organ donation from cryonics patients

Organ donation from cryonics patients was brought up by Joe Strou in
CryoNet Message #9132.  He wrote:

>Why can't cryonics patients also donate organs?  I understand that
>cryoprotectants are generally toxic and render the organs unsuitable for
>transplantation, but why can't we harvest the organs before administering
>cryoprotectant (as suggested to me by Jim Halperin)?

There has been at least one case of donation of a kidney, which other
posters will discuss, I'm sure.  We also often collect and preserve tissue
samples, especially in neuro suspensions, and intend to make some of that
tissue available for later study by a variety of researchers.  The purpose
of such donations (the kidney and the tissue) is for research, not
transplantation.

In terms of donation for transplantation: it is partly a matter of
priorities.  Suspension is a complicated procedure which we don't do very
often.  There is enough potential for mistakes without the complications of
organ donation.  Of course there could be special circumstances where a
family member needs a donation, and the closest tissue match is from the
person to be suspended.  In such a case, reordering priorities is in order.

Many organs for transplant, which are harvested today, are only taken from
"brain dead" doners.  So the opportunity for such donation isn't great,
even less so from cryonics patients, since we seek to PREVENT "brain death"
before starting a suspension.

In cases where there is an autopsy, and we proceed with a brain-only
suspension, some of the tissue might be used medically.  These would be
some very specific tissue types, which could only be used for some special
medical purposes.  For example, human skin for use as temporary coverings
for burn victims, or perhaps bone for grafting.

While donation for transplant from cryonic suspension patients isn't
practical now, there has been considerable discussion of the desirability
to produce multi-organ flushes (and "blood substitutes") which would allow
the rapid cooling and perfusion of a whole body, and the maintenance of the
body at low temperatures for a few days to allow less time-critical
harvesting of a variety of organs including heart, lung, liver, and kidney.
If such solutions (and techniques to use them) were developed, the brain or
head, might also be harvested for cryonics purposes.

ANY donation for non-cryonics purposes (from a suspended patient) would
have public relations value.  Cryonics is still viewed by a segment of the
population as "selfish."  Organ donation would help to put more of a
positive spin on cryonic preparation.

Finally, for anyone interested in doing this.  Make your wishes known TO
YOUR CRYONICS SOCIETY so your cryonics organization can make the donation,
*if* it proves possible and practical.  We absolutely DON'T WANT any
question that the cryonics society has priority.

Long Life,

Jim Yount

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