1st quarter 2010 • Volume 31:1

Protecting Cryonics Arrangements from Third PartY Interference page 14

Read This if you want to live page 7

The Ethics of Cryonics Interference page 17

Options for Brain- ISSN 1054-4305 Threatening Disorders page 20

$9.95 Improve Your Odds of a Good Cryopreservation You have your cryonics funding and contracts in place but have you considered other steps you can take to prevent problems down the road?

 Do you keep Alcor up-to-date about personal and medical changes?

 Does your Alcor paperwork still reflect your current wishes?

 Have you executed a cryonics-friendly Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care?

 Do you wear your bracelet and talk to your friends and family about your desire to be cryopreserved?

 Do you have hostile relatives or supportive relatives that are willing to sign a Relative’s Affidavit?

 Do you attend local cryonics meetings or are you interested in starting a local group yourself?

 Are you interested in contributing to Alcor?

Contact Alcor at 1-877-462-5267 ext. 132 and let us know how we can assist you.

AlcorAlcor hashas 900900 Members!!!Members!!! Alcor closed the year of 2009 with more than 900 members. Read Ralph Merkle’s “Let's Talk About Cryonics” in the 3rd quarter issue of Cryonics how to help us reach 1000 members. 1ST QUARTER 2010 • VOLUME 31:1

Contents

1st quarter 2010 • Volume 31:1 3 Executive Director’s Report ProtectingCOVER STORY: PAGE 14 Cryonics 11 Member Profile: ArrangementsfromAs much as we do not like to Adele Fournet admit the possibility, some of Musician and Alcor Member Third PartY Adele Fournet signed up for Interferencepage 14 the most formidable obstacles cryonics when she was 16 to our cryopreservation are years old! greedy relatives or hostile Readthird This ifparties. Rebecca Lively 17 The Ethics of Cryonics you want to livepage 7 presents a comprehensive Interference The Ethics of The law does not recognize overviewpage 17 of the legal strategies Cryonics Interference cryonics patients as being you can pursue to prevent alive, but does the uncertain Options for Brain- this. Ifpage you 18 want to protect state of cryonics patients entail Threatening Disorders yourself against these moral obligations of some ISSN 1054-4305 scenarios but are over- kind?

$9.95 whelmed by all the 18 Teens and Twenties Meeting different legal options at your Strengthens Links between disposal, this article is for you. Cryonics Generations Cryonicists are not a dying breed! A report from the 2010 7 Read This if You Want to Live Teens and Twenties meeting. Robert Newport, M.D. and Michael Geisen 22 Book Review: Long Life? You think that you have completed your journey to meaningful There is no shortage of novels life extension by executing cryonics arrangements with Alcor. with a cryonics theme. Mike Not quite! Dr. Robert Newport and Michael Geisen walk you Perry reviews one of them for us. through 14 steps to improve your chance of survival. 23 Membership Report The state of Alcor membership at the 20 Options for Brain-Threatening Disorders end of December 2009. Mike Perry 24 Tech News The most important objective of Tech News editor Mike Perry cryonics is to preserve the brain reports on the health benefits as well as possible after legal of the "Mediterranean diet," death. But what can you do when machines that can print 3D you are faced with a disease that organs, and an avalanche of threatens your brain such as exciting stem cell research breakthroughs. Alzheimer's?

www.alcor.org Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 1 FROM THE EDITOR

elcome to the first electronic edition of Cr yonics! The decision to end Editor the paper version of the magazine was not easy but we are determined Aschwin de Wolf Wto produce an even better and more timely magazine. If you still have any remaining questions about this change please do not hesitate to contact Alcor Art Director or the editor. Jill Grasse The major theme of this issue of Cr yonics is how to protect yourself against hostile interference with your cryonics arrangements by family members or third Contributing Writers parties. This problem has always been with us but a number of highly published Robert Newport, M.D. legal cases have made more Alcor members aware of the importance of executing Michael Geisen the proper legal documents to minimize the possibility and negative consequences Rebecca Lively of such interference. R. Michael Perry, Ph.D. The one message that all contributors to this issue want to get across is that Aschwin de Wolf making cryonics arrangements is not enough. There is more to think about. Have Chana de Wolf you thought about specifying your cryonics wishes in your Living Will? Have you ______executed a Power of Attorney for Health Care to make decisions on your behalf when you are no longer able to do so? What about Advance Directives? Most Copyright 2010 people are not very familiar with these legal topics and we hope that this issue will by Alcor Life Extension Foundation help you understand them better to strengthen your chances of an uncontested All rights reserved. cryopreservation. Reproduction, in whole or part, without The opening article is “Read This if You Want to Live” by Robert Newport, M.D. and Michael Geisen. The authors identify no fewer than 14 steps that can permission is prohibited. improve your chances of a good and timely cryopreservation. Dr. Newport was also kind enough to include two legal documents that he himself has executed as Cr yonics Magazine is published quarterly. an example for our readers. My own small contribution concerns the largely unexplored topic of the To subscribe: call 480.905.1906 x101 ethics of cryonics interference. Cryonics patients do not receive the full legal pro- ______tection of living persons but that does not mean that those who interfere should get off the hook from a moral point of view. Address correspondence to: In our cover story Rebecca Lively works out in more detail the legal options Cr yonics Magazine to prevent hostile inference with your cryonics wishes. Interference doesn’t always 7895 East Acoma Drive, Suite 110 reflect outright hostility to cryonics. In some cases it is simply the greed of indif- Scottsdale, Arizona 85260 ferent family members that is sufficient to delay or prevent your cryopreservation. Phone: 480.905.1906 There is now a growing consensus that greedy family members should be faced Toll free: 877.462.5267 with strong incentives not to interfere. For example, you can add a no-contest Fax: 480.922.9027 clause to your Living Will so that even if a family member successfully prevents the cryopreservation of a cryonics member (s)he will get nothing. Perhaps you can Letters to the Editor welcome: even provide a financial incentive to ensure that your wishes ar e carried out. [email protected] One of the most tragic events that can happen to a person with cryonics arrangements is when a brain-threatening disorder progressively destroys your Advertising inquiries: personality and memory as you grow older. Mike Perry reviews the available 480.905.1906 x113 options for those who are faced with such grim prospects. On a more positive [email protected] note, Mike Perry also attended the January 2010 cryonics Teens and Twenties meeting and reports back. ISSN: 1054-4305 One of the attendees was Adele Fournet. Adele signed up with Alcor when she was 16(!) years old as a joint decision with her father. This issue’s member I Visit us on the web at www.alcor.org profile presents further evidence of how Alcor’s demographics are changing.

Alcor News Blog www.alcornews.org/weblog

2 Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 www.alcor.org Executive Director’s Report

Jennifer Chapman

he first quarter of 2010 has been a the son secured release of the individual http://www.alcor.org/Library/html/ busy time. We navigated a last- from the medical examiner’s office and pr2010-02-22.html Tminute case, prevailed in an epic legal signed the membership agreements, we battle in the state of Colorado on behalf of approved A-2469 as an Alcor patient. We March 1: Colorado Springs Court patient Mary Robbins, and negotiated a placed the patient on dry ice and drove her Upholds Desire of Alcor Member to favorable resolution with a medical examiner back to Alcor for neuroseparation and a be Cryopreserved in the state of Florida for a long-time straight freeze procedure. A-2469 became http://www.alcor.org/Library/html/ member. Although all three were straight Alcor’s 90th patient. pr2010-03-01.html freeze cases, an outcome we intently try to avoid, we fought hard for the best interests A-1926: Fighting For Your Rights March 3: Alcor and Robbins Family of these patients and gained important expe- On Friday, February 6th, we were Reach Amicable Settlement rience in the process. We continue to contacted by the family of Mary Robbins (A- http://www.alcor.org/Library/html/ monitor several members facing various 1926). Mary had been admitted to the pr2010-03-03.html degrees of risk, while moving ahead with hospital for complications associated with a our technical development and patient care recent cancer diagnosis. In fact, Mary had Three Alcor representatives testified at initiatives. We also processed our first mem- contacted Alcor herself only a month prior, a hearing about this matter, and the court bership dues increase in nearly a decade. after learning of her diagnosis, to ensure her found our testimony credible. After weeks Read on for a more detailed explanation of Alcor membership was in order. of Alcor coordinating remote deployments, recent happenings at Alcor. Unfortunately, her health rapidly declined, and maintaining relations with the funeral home, she was admitted to hospice care in Colorado working with the attorneys, and dealing with A-2469: A Last-Minute Case Springs a few days before pronouncement of the media, it was quite a relief to finally have In the late evening hours of January legal death. As her condition worsened, her Mary Robbins as Alcor’s 91st patient on 24th, an emergency text alerted us to a third- family became less communicative. Alcor was March 5th. party, non-member case. We were contacted not immediately informed of her death, This case emphasized the importance of by the patient’s son, a long-time member, despite having deployed Aaron Drake to being very cautious about the funding whose mother had died unexpectedly in an Colorado to check her condition, and so arrangements we accept. In the case of Mary accidental house fire. He was preparing to began a three-week dispute between the Robbins, we approved a special funding drive to the location of the accident, several Robbins family and Alcor. Mary was main- arrangement whereby Alcor was not the hours from his home, and requested time to tained on dry ice at a local mortuary until a irrevocable beneficiary of Mary’s annuity. talk with the rest of his family about cryop- court ruled in Alcor’s favor. Despite the Although she agreed not to change the bene- reserving his mother. Although he under- favorable ruling, a settlement agreement was ficiary, authorization from Alcor was not stood the importance of proceeding quickly, signed between the parties. required from the insurance company’s stand- he needed to cautiously approach his family. We were well represented by our legal point. Mary kept her end of the bargain, but Additionally, an investigation of the accident team in Colorado. The media quickly took the beneficiary was changed by Mary’s power was pending, and there was the possibility of interest in the legal dispute, prompting us to of attorney, just before her death, without an autopsy. Although we were limited in our explain that Alcor’s motives were purely to Alcor’s knowledge or consent. Our current involvement until the family decided uphold the wishes of our long-standing membership requirements follow the whether to pursue membership, the member. We spearheaded the effort to keep principle that we only accept arrangements Deployment Committee decided to deploy the public informed by distributing the requiring Alcor’s signature for substantive Aaron Drake to California the next morning. below press releases available on the “News changes to the funding mechanism. However, The medical examiner’s office held the Media” page of our website: some funding arrangements approved in the patient for a few days but was generally past do not follow this principle. In the cooperative and ultimately chose to do a February 22: Alcor Attempts to Fulfill coming days, we will consider what can be non-invasive autopsy using a CT scan. After Wishes of Colorado Springs Woman done to address this issue, and others, raised by this case.

www.alcor.org Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 3 A-1712: Negotiating with a plifies the extreme importance of our members Louis had entered an extended care facility, we Medical Examiner proactively making arrangements to facilitate a sent an abbreviated medication kit to the head Simultaneous to the Mary Robbins successful cryopreservation. This includes nurse of the facility. We continue to maintain situation, we managed a second case for a long- ensuring that cooperative individuals are fully communications regarding this member, with time member who had died unexpectedly in informed of the need to contact Alcor well in both his family and health care providers. Florida on February 14th (A-1712). We were advance of legal death. I was pleased to recently speak with the initially contacted by a nurse, who called our Texas regional group leader, Steve Jackson, emergency number. She informed us it would Readiness Activities about activities involving our emergency be a medical examiner's case due to the sur- As of the end of the first quarter, we are response network. The Texas group is proac- rounding circumstances. It was a Sunday, and back on high alert for two terminal members. tively seeking medical professionals for their the next day was a national holiday, so it would One local member has been admitted to a team and taking other actions to build their be difficult to have him released quickly. We friendly hospice on an outpatient basis. We are capabilities, such as establishing contact with explained his status as an anatomical donor and maintaining good communication with the the chief medical officer at a local hospital and requested he be cooled immediately. The family and hospice providers. Several plans are locating friendly funeral homes. Our caseload hospital staff packed his head in ice and moved in place in the event of her unexpected death at is quite high right now, averaging about one him to a cooler. Suspended Animation dis- home. We prepared the emergency response case per month since December. We continue patched to the scene to help with hospital coor- vehicle, ensuring it has a constant supply of ice. to work with the regional teams to aid their dination, and we hired legal counsel to assist Ice has also been pre-positioned at the development when possible and replenish their with avoiding an invasive autopsy and expe- member’s home with the family’s consent. We inventory as needed. We hope to restore our diting release from the medical examiner’s developed a general plan of action for training program in the second half of the year. office. The medical examiner, although responding quickly, since the home is only As a supplement to the in-person training, we generally cooperative, did require a court order about 10 minutes from Alcor, and put our have started production on a training DVD before agreeing to limit the analysis of the surgeon and team members on notice. We also with supporting documentation. In this video, brain’s condition to a non-invasive CT scan. discussed certain aspects of our emergency sta- Aaron Drake will demonstrate how to perform We tried to prevent this from becoming a bilization procedure that differ for a local case, certain emergency response skills on cryonics straight freeze case, but it took several days to specifically at what temperature to discontinue patients. obtain the court order. Suspended Animation, cardiopulmonary support. Another terminal Inc. assisted with performing a field neurosep- member in California may likewise need Cryonics Experiments aration and transport of the patient to Alcor. hospice care soon. He is presently in the In late January, we were presented with a A-1712 became Alcor’s 92nd patient. hospital and the hospital staff has been advised rare opportunity for training, equipment testing to release all medical information to us. We are and information-gathering about the effects of Orville Richardson Legal Dispute monitoring his condition closely with the assis- cryopreservation on the brain. A woman in In April of 2009, we learned that Alcor tance of a Southern California team member Florida had donated her body to Alcor, not for member Orville Richardson had been buried who visits him regularly. the purpose of being cryopreserved, with the the prior February by his siblings. Orville's Alcor is a 24/7 operation, and we often hope of revival, but for the purpose of membership arrangements with Alcor stated receive calls to our emergency line at all hours research. The matter was discussed extensively that he wanted Alcor to proceed with his cryo- of the day and night that vary in their urgency. with Alcor’s technical staff and several advisors, preservation, regardless of the severity of In the first quarter, we received four member- as well as Suspended Animation, Inc. The pros damage to his remains. However, the state of related emergency calls that warranted and cons of proceeding were conscientiously Iowa required the disinterment permit to be attention, but were not urgent. weighed. In the end, several factors resulted in requested by the next of kin. Attempts to First, we were contacted about an Arizona a declination of the anatomical gift. Factors negotiate with the family members who buried member who had been taken to the ER and that were considered included cost, the risk of him failed and, as a consequence, Alcor took was undergoing emergency surgery. Based on communicable disease, the lack of forewarning legal action to compel them to sign the applica- the information available to us, her condition of her death, legal concerns, and the need to tion form necessary to effectuate Orville’s dis- was not deemed life threatening. She is tem- restore readiness after the A-2469 case. interment. This resulted in a protracted legal porarily on our watch list until we are confident Although we believe that donations of this dispute, which was ultimately concluded in she has fully recuperated. We also added an nature could be an important resource for Alcor's favor by the Court of Appeals of Iowa. elderly member in Florida to our watch list after Alcor, proper preparations must be made in It is our understanding that before his we were contacted by his son who was advance of such opportunities in the future. death Orville suffered the onset of dementia admitting him to the hospital for treatment of Along the lines of information-gathering and was no longer capable of living independ- a long-time condition. Next came a call about regarding cryonics procedures, we entered into ently. As a result, his brother and sister were a 73-year-old member residing in Washington an agreement with Advanced Neural named as his co-conservators prior to his legal who had broken his ankle and was undergoing Biosciences, Inc. (ANB) that will help Alcor death. His sister also became his legal guardian. general anesthesia to have it set. We were address long-standing issues relevant to the For whatever reason, Alcor was not contacted contacted again a few weeks later when this field of cryonics. Part of the agreement by his family, nor any of his caregivers, when member was unexpectedly losing blood. His involves ANB conducting experiments his cryopreservation appeared imminent. This condition was stabilized, and we continue to requested by Alcor. The details of these exper- case has many lessons, but it particularly exem- monitor his recovery. Finally, upon receiving iments are still being worked out, but it will notification that a 96-year-old member in St. likely involve validating existing and potential

4 Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 www.alcor.org whole body organ preservation solutions and Progress continues on our R&D projects, Do you have an upcoming stepwise validation of Alcor’s medication including development of a system that will surgery or a medical condition protocol for field operations. simultaneously control patient cooldowns while listening for and recording fracturing Alcor should know about? Technical Development events. Joel Andersen has just about finished We continue to hire consultants pos- the data acquisition phase of the project and Whether your surgery is high risk or sessing various areas of expertise to aid with will soon be moving on to post-processing. low risk, life-threatening or a routine technical development. Steve Graber majored Randal Fry also addressed items needing procedure, there are a few things you in Architecture with a minor in Fine Art, which attention on the whole body perfusion table, should do in advance: includes some graphic design. In December, rebuilding the center cold stage fan motor to (1) Contact Alcor to provide the we retained him to document several important one of a dual-winding model with silicone insu- details of your surgery. We processes, including all aspects of perfusate lation; rebuilding the lids to improve the seams; need to know several details, such preparation. This covers preparing pre- installing lighting; and addressing an issue with as where it will take place, the weighed perfusate packages, preparing steriliza- the nitrogen plumbing causing uneven cooling name and number of your doctor, tion packs, operating the anprolene sterilizer, of the cold stage. Randal has temporarily taken and information about your and mixing and storing perfusates. Due to our a break from this project to begin building durable power of attorney for incoming case, it was also a valuable opportu- several field ATPs (Air Transportable Perfusion health care. Alcor will provide a nity to have him document the whole body Kits), a project funded by a grant from the standard form you can fill out to patient transfer process from setup to cleanup. LEF, Miller, Thorp donation. Randal will build aid our timely response in the The documentation process includes both the back plates and shelving, and Hugh Hixon event of an emergency. written procedures and video footage of actual will assemble the rest of the contents. These operational activities. He continued these ATPs will be distributed around the country for (2) Talk to your doctor about your projects into January, while additionally our regional groups. cryopreservation arrangements. working with Joel Andersen (our LabVIEW It is preferable for your doctor programmer) to learn how to operate the (and your family, for that matter) Patient Care whole body perfusion system. In 2005, Alcor had three dewars manufac- to hear directly from you about Aschwin de Wolf was invited to visit tured that all had higher boiloff rates than your cryopreservation arrange- the facility to observe and document the desired: Bigfoot #10, #11, and #12. The man- ments. Your doctor may or may whole body straight freeze process. During ufacturing company agreed to repair Bigfoot not interact cooperatively with his visit, we discussed projects he could #10 free of charge to see if the boiloff rate Alcor, and it is better to find out undertake remotely, and he is currently con- could be improved. After cutting open the his or her attitude in advance of tracted to offer input on a variety of dewar, they pulled out the inner shell. It was your surgery. readiness matters. This including suggesting hard to remove, which may mean the super (3) Complete a durable power of contents for an abbreviated medication kit, insulation was packed too tightly. The shell was attorney for health care. This suggesting modification to Alcor's protocol rewrapped using 0.5 mil insulation (instead of document names the person who for pediatric cases, discussing the pros and 1.0 mil insulation). However, in order to put will make key decisions regarding cons of certain water recirculation devices, the shell back in, they needed to weld a ring at your medical care in the event and drafting a training reader. He is also the top of the dewar to raise up the shell an you are incapacitated and cannot reviewing the whole body perfusion system inch or two so that the insulation at the bottom speak for yourself. It is critical manual and will recommend improvements. of the dewar would not be compressed. that you select a durable power of Eric Vogt, a 14-year paramedic and Alcor They hoped to begin testing in January, attorney for health care who is contractor, visited the facility for about a week but their plans were slightly delayed due to a fully supportive of your cryonics to round off his efforts to organize our leak, which had to be repaired. They then arrangements. It is also helpful to readiness inventory. During his previous visit, pumped down the dewar and commenced put that person in contact with Eric had centralized the readiness items in testing, which revealed a boiloff rate of 12.6 Alcor in advance of your suite 105 and created an inventory list. Since liters per day at about one-third full. Further procedure so we can introduce then, Richard Cremeens has taken an actual testing is required to determine the actual ourselves and explain what they count of each individual item. During his boiloff rate. While Bigfoot #10 is being are asked to do in an emergency present visit, Eric is labeling the shelves to repaired out-of-state, the other two dewars are situation. specify each item and the minimum level at kept empty at Alcor. Reaching a resolution is which reordering should take place. To aid particularly important because we will need to Please contact Alcor's Medical Response with ease of reordering, he is updating the use one of the empty dewars with a higher Director regarding your upcoming inventory list to include documentation of boiloff rate with our next whole body case. surgery or medical condition: vendor details, such as contact information Both of the terminal members mentioned and part numbers. Those items with an expi- above will be whole body patients, so it is highly Aaron Drake ration date are being arranged in "first use" likely we will need to temporarily use one of the 877-462-5267 x 104 order and, to ensure the inventory is main- dewars presently at Alcor awaiting repair. [email protected] tained properly over time, he will be submit- Regarding patient care, a down payment ting a written inventory control procedure. has been made on patient care bay security

www.alcor.org Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 5 upgrades approved by the Alcor Board and payment of membership dues. Alcor tax letters were customized to address this Patient Care Trust Board. The vendor is putting charges membership dues to support the more accurate interpretation. us on their schedule, and Hugh Hixon is in advancement of its programs and to help In the first quarter, Bonnie also charge of managing the project. Randal Fry defray the costs of equipment and supplies, completed the 2007 financial review and will hang curtains or blinds in the conference administrative expenses, professional 2008 990, which are posted on the website. room to obstruct vision into the area during services, and other similar expenses. Alcor's We spoke with our accountants, who we construction and thereafter. last dues increase was eight years ago, in have a good relationship with, to explain our 2002. Since then, the CPI-U (a frequently concerns about the quote we had received Member Funding Checks cited measure of inflation) has increased by for the 2006 compilation, pointing out that When emergency calls are received, it is nearly 20 percent. Alcor's expense budget we had already paid for an opening balance our standard practice to review the member- has accommodated this significant increase sheet review of 2006. As a result of our ship file to assess the member’s funding in general cost levels without any correspon- conversation, they agreed to reduce their status. In doing so recently, we learned that ding increase in revenue from member dues. quote by about 53 percent. They have the funding for the above mentioned 73- In light of this, and considering the need to provided us with a list of documents and year-old member (see “Readiness Activities”) address Alcor's current operating budget information needed for the compilation. was unsatisfactory due to a misunderstanding deficit, a 20 percent dues increase was D’Bora and Bonnie also coordinated to regarding the term “assignment.” His policy enacted effective January 2010. restore the functionality of the PayPal defined assignment to mean that Alcor was Comprehensive Member Standby charges account with input from the website the owner, not the collateral assignee, as we and Life Member dues were unchanged. working group, after we were informed had erroneously interpreted it to mean. The membership application fee and about a member who tried unsuccessfully to Without being named the collateral assignee extended application fees paid by applicants make a donation. (The donation has since or beneficiary, the insurance company would also increased by approximately 33 percent. been received). All things considered, it may not recognize Alcor as the valid recipient of Thank you to all the staff who busily be another few months before we are ready the insurance proceeds. This particular issue worked behind the scenes to ensure a to move on to other high priority accounting has been corrected, but the broader issue smooth transition to the new dues rate, projects, such as cleaning up the general remains that some unknown percentage of including Diane Cremeens and D’Bora ledger and working with our accountants on our membership has inadequate funding. Tarrant who helped update the legal our backlog of financial reviews. D’Bora Tarrant conducted a first pass review contracts, website, blog and promotional We continue to monitor our budgetary of the funding status for each member a few materials. D’Bora also processed the mailing situation and made some important adjust- years ago. Now Diane Cremeens will to our members and applicants, while ments in the last few months, with more to undertake a more detailed analysis, and some Bonnie Magee single-handedly updated each come. In addition to implementing the fee of you may be hearing from her about your and every membership record in increases and negotiating a lower charge for funding. We appreciate your willingness to QuickBooks, checking for accuracy during the 2006 compilation, we eliminated our cooperate with these efforts, which are the process. She even made corrections phone lease, electing to purchase the important to protect our financial security along the way, including adjusting student or equipment outright for under $3,000. This and your cryopreservation arrangements. family discounts that had not been updated represents a savings of about $4,000 in the When it comes to life insurance, a reliable for many years. She also took the time to first year and $7,000 per year thereafter. We agent can be essential. In an emergency, logis- organize the memorized transaction list into recognized that our paper towel expense was tical planning is benefited by knowing the groups, which makes it easier to spot inaccu- too high, so new dispensers were installed amount of funding available. During the A- racies and find information. that are estimated to save around $1,000 per 1712 case, we tried to check the patient’s year. We also reduced or eliminated some funding, but the insurance company was Financial Matters professional retainers, for a savings of closed. So, we sought assistance from the The first quarter is one of the busiest $14,000 per year. Our general account was agent, Mary Naples. Unfortunately, Mary had times for the accounting department. In further benefited by a reimbursement from retired some time ago and could not be addition to processing the fee increases, the R&D account of $32,000, which is a reached. About 115 members have Mary Bonnie processed the January billing (the partial reimbursement for 2009 expenses. named as their agent of record, so Diane biggest of the year), mailed each member an Cremeens sent a mailing referring them to a overview of their 2009 dues payments and Respectfully, new agent, one that has a good relationship donations for tax purposes, and completed with Alcor and has agreed to offer assistance the 1099s. We no longer have to pay our after hours. Twenty percent of the members accountants to process the 1099s, so we are contacted have responded thus far by filling pleased to now have this in-house capability. Jennifer Chapman out the appropriate form. Multiple mailings Bonnie works closely with our accountants Executive Director may be necessary to get everyone assigned to on any issues that arise. For instance, we had ALCOR FOUNDATION a new agent. informed our members for many years that dues were 90% tax deductible. In consulta- Membership Dues Increase tion with our accountants, Bonnie deter- One of the primary ways members mined that the only tangible benefit our support the organization is through the members receive is Cryonics Magazine. The

6 Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 www.alcor.org Read This If You Want to Live

By Robert Newport, M.D. & Michael R. Geisen

ood, we were hoping that title explained that the human brain consists of 1) Make sure you always wear your Alcor would get your attention. Based on approximately 100 billion nerve cells. Each necklace and bracelet. This is your first Gour combined experience with nerve cell can connect with approximately line of defense in the case of an unex- approximately 15 cryopreservations over a 1,000 other nerve cells, which implies that pected death. First responders are span of 10 years as members of Alcor’s the typical human brain can have 1 trillion trained to look for medical information Southern California Transport Team, the neuronal connections. That is a lot of infor- like this and when they read this infor- information we have to share with you can mation to preserve when transitioning from mation they will be prompted to call literally mean the difference between a high 37 degrees C (98.6 degrees F) to -196 Alcor. From that point on, Alcor’s quality, early resusciation or a resusciation degrees C (-321 degrees F). experts will provide guidance for that may need to wait for better technology Our cryopreservation process is beginning the cryopreservation process. or, possibly, no resusciation, ever. attempting to preserve, at the very least, as If you don’t have one or both of these Aschwin de Wolf provided a good much of the brain structure as possible, so if items, contact D’Bora Tarrant at description of the substantial improvements an Alcor member dies and the cryo- [email protected] to request a replace- Alcor has made in equipment and procedures preservation process is not initiated immedi- ment(s). in the areas of standby, stabilization, transport ately, ischemic damage begins to occur in the and cryopreservation.(1) While these advances brain within 3 – 4 minutes, under ordinary 2) For the same reasons, ensure that your are substantial, again, based on our experience circumstances, and it can occur even earlier Alcor wallet card is in your wallet or in the field, they are all for naught when, for in a warm environment, like a hot tub. purse. If you don’t have one or if yours example, one of our members passes away By taking some basic steps, each of us is old and unreadable, ensure that you under circumstances which delay the cryo- can greatly increase the odds of a good cryo- get one and keep it in your wallet or preservation process. This happens all too preservation. Following is a checklist which purse at all times. Again, D’Bora is the often. can help you substantially improve your odds point of contact. In a year-long (2010) series of monthly of a good cryopreservation. We strongly television interviews, acclaimed interviewer encourage you to make completion of this 3) Share your cryopreservation plans with and broadcast journalist Charlie Rose inter- checklist a priority – you’ve gone so far as to those who are close to you and ask viewed many of the world’s leading scientists sign up for cryonics, it would be a shame to them to support your wishes if you in the field of brain research. In episode have that effort nullified because of prevent- should be found incapacitated in any four, Dr. Cornelia Bargmann, of Rockefeller able circumstances. Actually, it would be more way. This includes family, friends, co- University, talked about the immense com- than a shame, it could mean the end of your workers and neighbors; discuss your plexity of the structure of the brain. She life. wishes and commitment in detail;

(1) Aschwin de Wolf, Advances in Readiness (Cryonics magazine, second quarter, 2009).

www.alcor.org Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 7 emphasize the seriousness and long- is easy to imagine that someone might instructions for what you want done if term nature of your decision; make sure attempt to convince us to cancel our you are incapacitated and not able to they understand that you have made decision to be cryopreserved. communicate your wishes. At the end definite legal and financial arrange- of this article is an example AMD ments to ensure your cryo- 7) To give items five and six even more kindly contributed by Dr. Newport. preservation.(2) This may be uncomfort- weight, you may want to make a video that Feel free to send an email to able (or worse) when you first break the documents your wishes. This can be a [email protected] if you would like news, but after these people have simple statement that you record on your an electronic version of this AMD. known your wishes for years it is much own and then forward a copy to Alcor in You’re welcome to use this as a template more likely that they will be supportive, case it may be needed in the future. for creating your own AMD, however, should that time come. And this you may want to consult with your advance notice is much better than the 8) Ensure that your cryopreservation doctor and/or lawyer. alternative of learning about your funding is rock solid. Most people use a wishes when you are ill or legally dead. life insurance policy with Alcor as the 13) Set up a Durable Power of Attorney so So, what exactly should those people do owner, or joint owner, and beneficiary. that if you are incapacitated, people you if you are found incapacitated? First, Rudi Hoffman wrote recently that he trust will have the ability to act on your dial 911, not Alcor. Let’s always was “not aware of a single suspension behalf. Again, Dr. Newport has con- remember that the first priority is to that was delayed for funding considera- tributed an example at the end of this keep you alive. Only after emergency tions when there was adequate life article. Feel free to use this as a template medical personnel are notified, and insurance in place in a verifiable for your own version and, once again, when time allows, then Alcor should be manner.” you may want to consult with your notified so they can coordinate or direct doctor and/or lawyer. any activity for cryopreservation. 9) The healthier Alcor is the better it is for all of us, so if your funding vehicle has 14) Set up Next of Kin Status Assignment 4) To solidify the support that you may more funds than are needed for your (may also be called “permission to receive from your relatives, it is a good cryopreservation, consider assigning release medical information”) to give idea to ask them to sign a “Relatives some or all of the additional funds to Alcor access to your medical informa- Affidavit,” a four page PDF that is Alcor. Alcor can provide the forms to tion. You may also choose to include available on the Alcor website at assist with this. people that you trust. Again, you may http://www.alcor.org/Library/pdfs/sig want to consult with your doctor nup-RelativesAffidavits.pdf. 10) If there is any indication that your and/or lawyer. health may be at risk, alert Alcor imme- 5) Many cryopreservations have been diately. Members do this on a frequent It would be a good idea to provide delayed and even cancelled by relatives basis and the Alcor staff appreciates copies of items 12 – 14 to Alcor. or business associates for financial, knowing of any significant risk to your Taking action on any one of these 14 religious or other reasons. Even if you health because it helps them be steps can significantly improve the odds that believe this could not happen to you it prepared for a quick response. you will have a high quality cryopreservation, is highly recommended that you Depending on the circumstances, an which, in turn, may lead to an earlier and structure your will or other related Alcor staff member may talk with your higher quality resuscitation. I documents so as to eliminate any medical representative or begin prepa- incentive for people to obstruct your rations to mobilize people and cryopreservation. Even further, you equipment to standby for your safety. References may want to include incentives to support your wishes, such as instruc- 11) If there is any concern that your life Alcor Foundation, Protecting Yourself in tions that funds will be disbursed only if may be at risk, seriously consider relo- Medical Emergencies, in the you are cryopreserved – that will cating to Scottsdale, near the Alcor Membership Info section of the Alcor eliminate most objections to cryo- facility. By relocating to Scottsdale you website www.alcor.org/BecomeMember/ preservation! will substantially improve the odds of toprotectyourself.html your getting a high quality cryo- 6) Prepare your cryopreservation instruc- preservation. Contact Alcor to discuss Bill Voice, Who Have You Told?, tions while you are of sound mind and options for this decision. (Cryonics, Nov/Dec 2005, page 23), body. If these instructions are not www.alcor.org/cryonics/cryonics0506.pdf already in place when we get older or 12) Set up an Advance Medical Directive are depressed or in pain due to illness, it (AMD). An AMD is a written list of

(2) Steve Bridge, Practical Planning for a Cryopreservation in Your Own Area (Cryonics magazine, February, 1989).

8 Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 www.alcor.org ADVANCE MEDICAL DIRECTIVE for Robert R. Newport M.D. 6215 Del Valle Drive Los Angeles, CA, 90048 Tel: 323-857-0128 Cell: 323-449-9434 [email protected]

1. This document is an advance medical directive. 2. It has all of the authority of any such document produced by the California Medical Association (goldenrod) or that of any other these United States Medical Associations, or those of any countries of the world, and therefore should be considered valid in every jurisdiction on the planet. 3. It does represent my true wishes for my health and well-being for now and into the future and until which time I should change this document. 4. By this document I charge any and all of those persons responsible for my medical care and treatment, whether it be acute, chronic, rehabilative or custodial to read and follow these instructions should I become moribund, incapaci- tated, or unable to maintain essential life supporting functions on my own. 5. AT A MINIMUM PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING: a. Establish an airway b. Support respiration and supply oxygen (if necessary by measurement) EXCEPT if I should have suffered an oxygen deficit from any cause for over 11 minutes, in which case oxygen is not to be administered without the express order of either my personal physician or a physician employed by the Alcor Life Extension Foundation. c. Support cardiac function chemically and or mechanically whether or not oxygen is administered concurrently (see above No. 5.b). d. Establish and maintain an I.V. (intravenous) drip with normal saline solution (this is not to replace or displace any other treatment which my physicians deem necessary) e. Maintain and continue the above regimen until such time as I may be evaluated by my personal physicians AND those employed or contracted by the Alcor Life Extension Foundation who may be reached at 1-800-367-2228, (24/7) Fax 480-922-9027, or by cable to 7895 E. Acoma Dr. #110 Scottsdale, Arizona, 85260-6916, USA, to whom I have pledged my entire body under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act. 6. The purpose of this regimen and protocol is to provide for my successful biostasis. 7. When after consultation between my family members, my personal physician and Alcor Representatives, it has been concluded that I have no reasonable chance for a return to conscious life given the current state of medical tech- nology, then I am, with all of the CPR systems in place, to be transferred to hospice care in Scottsdale Arizona. 8. Or, alternatively, at my hospital/hospice bedside, where as soon as Alcor’s “Transport Team” is ready and in place, all life support systems are to be turned off. 9. And as soon as practical I am to be declared legally dead so biostasis protocols can be applied. 10. Nancy Lee Weiss is the executor of my estate and is aware of my wishes in this matter. She holds my durable power of attorney for medical matters. 11. Gary Haraldsen Esq. is my alternative executor and is also aware of my wishes.

The above statements reflect my true wishes.

______Robert R. Newport M.D. Nancy L. Weiss Los Angeles County Witness Los Angeles California, USA January 29, 2009

www.alcor.org Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 9 DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT

1. This document is a durable power of attorney for medical treatment executed by me, Robert R. Newport, M.D. 2. In this document I assign to Nancy Lee Weiss my power of attorney for medical matters. 3. This power is to persist should I become incapacitated for any reason by any cause and be unable to understand, execute or order my own medical affairs. 4. Ms. Weiss is aware of my wishes and is holding a copy of my Advance Medical Directive, q.v. 5. Gary Haraldsen Esq. is my alternate in these matters and is aware of my wishes.

This document is to be considered valid in any jurisdiction and represents my true wishes in this matter.

______Robert R. Newport M.D. Nancy L. Weiss Los Angeles County Witness Los Angeles California, USA January 29, 2009

About the Authors

Robert Michael Geisen Newport, M.D. Michael Geisen Dr. Robert has been Newport, has interested in been an Alcor living a long, fit, Member for active life since twelve years 1982, when he and on the read Doris Southern California Rescue Team for Lessing’s “Canopus in Argos: Archive” the past ten years. A practicing series and was captivated by the life of psychiatrist when he joined, he Johor. In 2000, reading James became a member of Alcor’s Medical Halperin’s “The First Immortal” resulted Advisory Board and for a number of in his rapidly becoming an Alcor years served, at the pleasure of the member. Currently, Michael is the team Board of Directors, as Ombudsman. leader of Alcor’s Southern California Currently he is engaged in a second Transport Team, an Advisor to the Alcor career as a fine artist, a painter of Board of Directors, CEO of Ntelligent landscape art. Systems, a national web services company and an Executive Trainer for 5LINX, a telecommunications company.

10 Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 www.alcor.org Member Profile:

Adele Fournet

By Chana de Wolf Adele playing a show. ______

veryone knows that the typical cry- onicist has long been (and still is) the Eolder, single male “computer nerd,” but Adele Fournet is one of a growing number of Alcor members who do not fit into this category. Adele’s story starts famil- iarly enough: she learned about death at a young age and became fixated on the topic. She was scared. She asked questions, but was frustrated by the lack of any real clarity that anyone could provide on the issue. She knew she wanted to avoid death, but she didn’t know how. Terrified by the prospect of nonexis- tence but knowing of no way to avoid it, Adele first attempted to gain control of the situation by announcing to her friends and family that she was, in fact, immortal. And until investigating life extension in her teenage years, she continued to live her young life with a deeply rooted conviction Adele and her dad putting her that she would live forever. This was recording studio together. probably the first indication that Adele ______intended to approach the topic of death a _ little differently than the vast majority of All the while, Adele had been pressing humankind. the issue with anyone who would listen; but As she grew up and further examined it was her father who listened the most. the prospect of death, Adele’s motivations David Fournet, who had become very inter- for achieving immortality changed from ested in philosophy, psychology, and being inspired by fear to being inspired by a cognitive science since converting from love of existence. Accordingly, death became Christianity to atheism in his late 20s, less scary and more of an annoyance – handled his daughter’s all-consuming interest something that got in the way of living, the by talking with her about it extensively over foundation for everything she enjoyed. the years. www.alcor.org Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 11 Adele’s band in college. ______

Adele in her recording studio. ______

“He felt that death was an inevitability, convinced by the same arguments as Adele, so another, which she took over when the but stressed that he wanted to live as long did her 46 year old dad. original leader graduated. and healthy a life as possible,” Adele “For a number of reasons, including the Playing shows in Florida and back remembers. “But he wasn’t aware of any friendliness and competence of the people home in Arkansas, Adele quickly realized movements such as life extension or working at Alcor as well as the logical that there were not really a lot of other cryonics, so those were never brought up.” location of the facility in Arizona’s benign women – especially in rock music. Already However, David’s involvement in climate, we elected Alcor over the other focusing on the social sciences at the New Adele’s self-journey led them both to an [cryonics organizations],” Adele comments College of Florida, she became very inter- unexpected conclusion when Adele was regarding their decision to sign up with ested in the topic of women in rock music presented with the opportunity to write her Alcor. and wound up writing her thesis about it. first in-depth research paper, in 11th grade. Adele chose to examine life extension strate- gies and, with his usual interest in whatever “While in high school I maintained a very strong Adele was doing in school, David began helping her look into the various approaches interest in natural science, in college my interests to life extension being explored at that time. swung radically in the other direction and I found Together they researched and explored such topics as caloric restriction, reversal of myself reveling in the humanities and social sciences.” telomere shortening, various forms of nan- otechnology robotics, and, finally, cryonics. If Adele’s story isn’t atypical enough “In general, my thesis conceptualized “I learned that many folks interested in already, consider this: she is also no music production as different forms of significantly extending their lives, or elimi- computer nerd. Aside from being a young knowledge,” Adele explains. “Having the nating death altogether, took measures to female to sign up of her own accord (and knowledge about how to play in a rock band maximize health and physical and cognitive bring her dad along for the ride), Adele is is different from the kind of knowledge one functioning right now by engaging in various also a musician and social scientist. Having needs to play in an orchestra – it’s totally forms of caloric restriction and technological attended the Suzuki School of Music, different operational knowledge. But why is body enhancement,” Adele says. “But at the Adele went on to become interested in pop that the case? What are the social processes same time, as a last chance preventative rock piano and music theory in high that are in place? How do women come into measure, many had also signed up for school. Adele’s love of music then that knowledge? How did I?” cryonics.” And although Adele’s initial followed her into college in Florida where As with her investigations into cryonics, research left her wanting more scientific data she took more music theory classes. Soon Adele probed the subject matter deeply and to back up the efficacy of cryonics, she was she started composing orchestral and with very personal reasons for doing so. “Of convinced by Pascal’s Wager -type arguments chamber music for ensembles and joined course I see a lot of discrimination when it in favor of cryopreservation. At the age of 16, her first rock band as pianist and singer. comes to women as rock musicians, and Adele knew she wanted to sign up. And, When that band fell apart Adele joined there are intense image issues ranging from

12 Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 www.alcor.org sexualization and objectification of women available to download on iTunes under my to the role that women are expected to play in name, Adele Fournet. And although I didn’t rock bands.” But she feels that her interest include a cryonics song on this album, I and background in social science has allowed look forward to writing one for the next her to view the situation from a more album. Stay tuned!” I objective perspective, as well. Having just finished her Bachelor of Arts degree, Adele is now set to travel to More information about Peru on a Fulbright research grant to do AdeleFournet’s music and anthropological and musicological research research will be available soon on female rock instrumentalists in Lima. Upon her return next year she intends to at her forthcoming website, start graduate school in either New York www.adelefournet.com. In the City or San Francisco, maintaining her meantime, you may contact interest in anthropology of music, but Adele by email at adele- focusing more on pure social theory and the [email protected]. history of ideas surrounding gender and social roles in music. “While in high school I maintained a Adele with copies of her thesis, “Chicks with very strong interest in natural science, in Picks: An Ethnography of Female Rock college my interests swung radically in the Instrumentalists in Tampa, FL” other direction and I found myself reveling ______in the humanities and social sciences,” Adele explains of her current involvement lthough Adele has been an Alcor member for seven years, she in cryonics. “Nevertheless, being a member had not met many other cryonicists until recently. “With the of cryonics and having a general interest in exception of my father and the awesome folks who work at life extension is always in the back of myA Alcor, I had not met any other members until my recent journey mind. I make decisions to live an extremely to the Teens and Twenties Cryonics Conference in Fort Lauderdale,” she tells healthy life, being careful to eat well and us. “There I had the opportunity to meet dozens of other Alcor members, little, and have integrated activities like who are my age no less, and to finally feel a real sense of community with yoga, biking, and dance into my daily life.” them. As I told one of my college friends: ‘I have finally found my clan of Accordingly, she also feels that scientific bracelet wearers!’” research into cryopreservation and resusci- tation are the most important steps that It should come as no surprise that meeting those dozens of young, motivated cry- cryonics organizations can take to expand onicists (many of whom also did not fit the cryonics stereotype, as evidenced by the movement and gain more social and the large number of young women in attendance) inspired Adele to write the monetary support. following poem, which she says may be the lyrics to a future song about cryonics. Adele would eventually like to con- tribute in her own way to cryonics by “Death!” we say, nay we proclaim, looking into “social phenomena like the “the number one scam of the past, widespread paradigms of death in place in to say my life will resemble the last” our society, such as the paradigm that death Ask Hume in his chair and aging are inevitable, and social institu- with his pen and his beer: tions, like schools, philosophical traditions, and religions, that deliver a set number of “The future wont bow to the past anymore!” answers to our natural human questions about death.” But they’re nailing our tombs In the meantime, before she heads off and fanning the fumes to study female rock instrumentalists in and conjuring babies from outdated wombs Peru, she has been busy in the recording And handing out poetry, philosophical texts studio where she just finished recording her to convince us that dying is all for the best: first professional album of original music. “The cycle of life! The natural way! “Since I studied music composition in The will to death and authentic decay!” college, in addition to studying philosophy and social science, and since I also play But leave us in peace in our icy repose piano and sing, I figured I would take the proving our point as the centuries close time before leaving to Peru to record some of the songs I have been writing over the Watching them swarm and die with conviction last few years. The album will soon be hoping Cryonics is just science fiction

www.alcor.org Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 13 How to Protect your Cryonics Arrangements from Interference by Third Parties

By Rebecca Lively

n December 15, 2004, Orville arrangements prior to his legal death. for cryopreservation were not upheld by his Richardson signed up with Alcor Orville did not want to be buried, and we own brother and sister after he became OLife Extension Foundation, Inc., to have reason to believe the people who made unable to take care of himself. have his body cryopreserved in the event of the arrangements to bury Orville knew it. Accordingly, it is critical for cryonicists his legal death. This was not a simple matter Yet, despite the contracts he had signed, the to manage the risk that family members pose for Orville. When Orville signed up with money he had paid, and the people he had to a successful and prompt cryo- Alcor, he paid an upfront lump sum payment told, no one stepped in to protect Orville’s preservation. The purpose of this article is of $70,000. He also had to read and fill out wishes or inform Alcor of his legal death. to suggest legal and practical strategies to at least three lengthy legal agreements How did Orville go from a signed up minimize the risk of unsupportive family expressing his intentions. Ultimately, before cryonicist to embalmed and buried six feet members and to limit the amount of time Orville’s arrangements with Alcor could underground? Unfortunately, Orville did which passes between legal death and the become final he had to gather two witnesses not do enough to ensure that his cryo- start of cryopreservation procedures for as and a notary and attest to his wishes publi- preservation would begin as soon as possible many cryonicists as possible. cally. after his legal death. The unfortunate truth While a precise description of the laws On February 21, 2009, Orville is that the family members of cryonicists and policies in every state and country is far Richardson was embalmed and buried. often pose the greatest risk to a prompt beyond the scope of this article, the below Orville had not changed his mind about his cryopreservation. Orville’s expressed wishes categories are intended to point cryonicists in

14 Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 www.alcor.org the right direction to avoid devastating to be cryopreserved and “emphatically told be followed prior to your legal death. Your conflicts with their arrangements. However, him they would have nothing to do with his Living Will can also dictate your wishes nothing can replace hiring a knowledgeable plan.” regarding the removal of life support and cryonics-friendly attorney in your juris- Since Orville knew that his family did measures under various circumstances. If it diction. not support his cryonics arrangements, he is your desire to be removed from life should have taken steps to prevent them support, it is recommended that you specify I. Sign Up With a Cryonics Provider from making decisions if he ever became that your health care providers should wait incapacitated. Instead, when Orville began to remove life sustaining treatment until The September 1989 issue of Cr yonics showing signs of dementia in 2007, his sister your cryonics provider’s support staff is on magazine contained a survey of 109 people easily obtained an appointment as his hand to begin any necessary protocols as who identified as “cryonicists.” Of the guardian. Once she was appointed as his soon as possible after your legal death. respondents, 34% indicated that they were guardian, she had complete decision making Like all other legal documents, a Living not signed up with any cryonics organiza- authority regarding Orville’s medical care Will is a state specific document. However, tion. While this percentage has likely and treatment. in most states the witness and notary improved in the twenty-plus years since the This could have been prevented. Most requirements are similar to the designation survey was taken, it is safe to assume that at states allow you to execute a medical power of of a guardian. For that reason, it will least some of the intended readers of this attorney to designate who should oversee probably be convenient for you to execute a article have not yet signed up with a cryonics your medical affairs in the event you become Living Will at the same time as your medical organization despite identifying as cryoni- incapacitated. These states also generally power of attorney. cists. allow you to specifically disallow a potential Obviously, the first and most important guardian. In addition, you can specify what IV. Add a “No Contest” Clause to step toward cryopreservation is signing up decisions your guardian is and is not Your Will and arranging funding. The excuses for not permitted to make and provide specific signing up are varied and range from not restrictions. Using a medical power of Looking back to the unfortunate having family support to not having the attorney, a cryonicist could do three situation with Orville Richardson, the money to being “young and healthy” and important things: (1) select a fellow cryonicist question remains: If his family was so intent waiting until you “need” cryonics to sign up. as their medical guardian; (2) prohibit hostile on having him buried, how did Alcor ever Regardless of the reason, if you are not friends and relatives from serving as medical discover that Orville’s wishes were ignored? signed up for cryonics your best case guardians; and (3) restrict an appointed The answer is simple, Money. Remember scenario at legal death involves suffering medical guardian to make choices in consider- the $70,000 that Orville prepaid to Alcor— ischemic damage while a friend or loved one ation of your cryonics arrangements and to his family called requesting a refund. makes last-minute arrangements for your notify your cryonics provider if you are near The unfortunate and sad truth is that cryopreservation. Of course, the more likely death. many challenges to cryonics arrangements scenario is that such last-minute arrange- Authorized medical power of attorney are motivated at least in part by the money at ments will not be possible. forms (also known as health care proxy or stake. Because cryopreservation is funded in Being “young and healthy” is no excuse designation of guardian in the event the need some manner which is usually payable at either. First, young and healthy people die arises) differ by state and country. You may death, family members often have a desire to every day. Second, the best time to arrange be able to find the appropriate form for your access the funds earmarked for cryo- for life insurance to fund your cryo- jurisdiction by searching your state govern- preservation. If the cryopreservation does preservation is when you are young and ment’s website or the website of a hospital not occur, they reason, the money will go to healthy. Locking in the relatively low life doing business in your state. At a minimum, them. Had Orville ensured that the money insurance premiums generally available to most forms contain a space for the designa- could never be available to his brother and the under-forty set is reason enough to tion of a guardian and an alternate. Most sister, perhaps they would have chosen to arrange funding and sign up as soon as forms also require two witnesses and a notary. honor his wishes. possible. Your witnesses cannot also be designated as A critical step toward controlling the While signing up with Alcor seems like guardians. In the United States, an appro- purse strings of your estate after your death the simple and obvious solution, it is the priate form should specifically address the is executing a Last Will and Testament. A most important step you can possibly take HIPAA privacy laws as they apply to your Will dictates the disposition of your assets toward ensuring you are cryopreserved at guardian. and property and can also reiterate your the time of your legal death. cryonics related wishes. Your cryonics III. Execute a Living Will paperwork most likely included a document II. Designate a Guardian stating that it is your desire to be cryopre- A Living Will is a legal document which served. For this reason, it is critical that your Orville knew his family was not sup- provides specific direction to health care attorney be aware of all of your cryonics portive of his decision to be cryopreserved. providers in the event that you are terminally paperwork so that you do not unintention- Indeed, the brother and sister who cared for ill. Coupled with the designation of an ally supersede your cryonics documents with Orville after he was unable to care for appropriate guardian, a Living Will can your new Will. himself admitted in court documents that ensure that your cryonics provider will be Most states recognize a special Will they “tried to talk [Orville] out of ” his plan contacted and any necessary protocols will provision called a “no contest” or “in

www.alcor.org Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 15 terrorem” clause. This clause states that if Life insurance policy contingencies explaining your wishes and desires. This anyone interferes with your Will they forfeit create an incentive for family members to video can provide further evidence of your everything which is granted to them by your challenge your cryopreservation if they have strong desire to be cryopreserved. Will. While the issue has never been hope of collecting the insurance proceeds. litigated, this provision could easily be Cryonics life insurance policies can be VII. Conclusion drafted to extend to interference with your several hundred thousand dollars. That cryonics arrangements. A creative lawyer amount of money is enough to sway almost In the end, the Illinois Appellate Court may even attempt to draft a provision which anyone, especially a family member who is has ordered that Orville Richardson will get provides for an inheritance on a sliding scale skeptical of your arrangements. his wish to be cryopreserved. However, well based on the amount of time which passes It is critical to remove any financial over one year has passed since his burial in between your legal death and your cryo- incentive to challenging your cryonics February 2009. The damage that has preservation. arrangements. For this reason, you should occurred in that time is an unthinkable The primary caveat to using a “no name a contingent beneficiary who is disaster that no cryonicist should endure. contest” clause to financially incentivize entirely unrelated to you. Your contingent This disaster may have been prevented if your family to follow your cryonics arrange- beneficiary will not ever know that they are Orville had taken the proper steps to ments is that you have to leave them your contingent beneficiary unless the con- prevent his siblings from having medical something substantial in your Will in order tingency is triggered. This contingent bene- decision making authority, made his last to make it worthwhile for them to abide by ficiary should be an established charity wishes known, and removed all financial its terms. Leaving a family member very organization because it is likely that they will incentives to hindering his cryopreservation. little in your Will makes a “no contest” still exist if the contingency is ever triggered. The ultimate outcome of the Orville clause a worthless protection because they Moreover, they will have no reason to Richardson legal case is hopeful and the will not mind risking their small inheritance believe that they are in a position to benefit precedent it has set will help future for the chance at the big “payday” that might from your estate or that your estate even cryonicists. However, the presence of sup- result if they prevented your cryo- exists and thus no motivation to challenge portive legal precedent will not save you preservation. However, assuming you have your cryonics arrangements. from the ischemic damage which will occur something to give, a “no contest” clause can while you wait for a court to rule. Do not be a substantial motivator for an otherwise VI. Tell People About Your become the next cryonics legal battle. If you reluctant family member. Arrangements have already put the time and money into A “no contest” clause is subject to a signing up with a cryonics organization, put probable cause exception in many states. All of the legal forms in the world in a little bit more effort and safeguard your The probable cause exception allows a cannot guarantee that you will be cryopre- arrangements in as many legal and practical person to collect under your will despite served if you put them in a drawer and do ways as you can. I challenging it if they had probable cause to not tell anyone they are there. Make several do so. Probable cause is determined by the copies of every cryonics related document court and cannot be determined until after a that you sign and give them to trusted indi- challenge has been made. For this reason, a viduals. Tell those individuals where the person challenging a Will despite a “no originals are located. At a minimum, keep a About the contest” clause takes a substantial risk of copy of your paperwork in at least four Author disinheritance. At this time, “no contest” places: (1) with your cryonics provider; (2) in provisions are not enforced in either Florida a clearly marked folder where you keep other Rebecca Lively or Indiana. important documents; (3) with the person who you have designated as your guardian; Rebecca is an V. Change Your Contingent (4) at your attorney’s office. Keep the forms attorney living Beneficiary up to date and ensure that any old forms are in San Antonio, destroyed. Texas. While she primarily practices Most cryonicists fund their cryonics In addition to making sure your legal intellectual property law, she is also arrangements using a life insurance policy forms are not buried in a desk drawer, let interested in the legal aspects of listing their cryonics provider as the bene- other people know about your plans in estate planning for members of ficiary. However, problems may arise when general. If the unthinkable happens and cryonics organizations. you list a family member as contingent your right to cryonics is litigated in the beneficiary or when you do not list a con- probate court you should ensure that tingent beneficiary. Contingent benefici- witnesses are available to testify and say, “he aries collect from the life insurance policy told me that he wanted to be cryopreserved if your primary beneficiary cannot collect. on many occasions.” Additionally, telling If no contingent beneficiary is listed and friends and family about your arrangements the contingency is triggered, the funds ensures that your cryonics provider will be from the policy will pass to your estate and promptly notified in the event of an accident be distributed under your Will or by the or illness. An additional option is to go the laws of intestacy. extra mile and make a video of yourself

16 Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 www.alcor.org The Ethics of Cryonics Interference

By Aschwin de Wolf

dvocates of human cryo- and legal consequences? change someone’s existing chance at revival preservation argue that death is not A related problem is the termination of from possible to impossible. The example Aan event but a process. Cryonics cryonics procedures. Advocates of cryonics also illustrates the role that probability of patients are stabilized at low temperatures agree that a person who has not chosen resuscitation plays in such considerations. in anticipation of a second medical opinion cryonics should never be forced to be cry- Few people would argue that it does not in the future. This raises an important opreserved. But what is the right course of matter at all how credible resuscitation of ethical issue. What is the moral status of action when such a person is already cryop- cryonics patients is for making decisions cryonics patients? It is not possible to argue reserved? Can we just thaw him out? Let us about the moral status of cryonics patients, that cryonics patients will be resuscitated in consider the case of a person with a Do interference with cryonics procedures, and the future. But it is not possible to rule this Not Resuscitate (DNR) order who is acci- the decision to terminate somebody already out either. As a matter of fact, evidence dentally resuscitated because paramedics in cryostasis. from cryobiology, neuroscience, and were not aware of his wishes on the matter. We want certainty in a universe that only synthetic biology support the technical fea- Few people would argue that this person offers us probabilities. The ethical and legal sibility of cryonics. As a consequence, should be killed before he gains awareness issues surrounding cryonics are not unique to cryonics patients are somewhere on a to honor his wishes. Now let us consider a cryonics. It is not just in cryonics where issues continuum between alive and of moral obligation are discussed irreversible biological death. “The ethical and legal issues surrounding in the context of uncertainty, What does this mean when probability and risk. It will be someone interferes with a cryonics are not unique to cryonics.“ rewarding to review these philo- person’s wish to be cryopre- sophical and legal debates and see served? In essence, those who successfully situation where it is discovered that a how debates about interference with cryonics prevent the cryopreservation of a person person was cryopreserved against his will can be framed from these perspectives. have altered the probability of future but at a point in the future when the In the meantime, people who have revival from “possible” to “impossible.” prospect of resuscitation becomes increas- made cryonics arrangements are not com- For example, let us assume that cryonics ingly likely. In such a case, the issue would pletely powerless against hostile interfer- patients can be resuscitated in the future. be similar to a resuscitated DNR patient in ence. They can alter their cryonics What does this mean for those who were deep anesthesia. paperwork and living will to ensure that not cryopreserved because of hostile inter- This example illustrates a number of there is little incentive for greedy relatives ference? Have they been killed? Most issues. There is a meaningful distinction to intefere. As a matter of fact, one could people would agree that such a verdict is between ignoring someone’s wishes not to change one’s “last” wishes to ensure that too strong. But do we believe that a person be cryopreserved and terminating the cryo- interference would trigger the worst who knowingly changes the prospect of preservation of an existing patient. financial outcome for greedy family future revival from possible to impossible Honoring a person’s wishes not to be cry- members and others who would stand to (or decreases those probabilities by causing opreserved requires non-interference. Thawing benefit from a person not getting cryopre- delays) should be free from moral blame out an existing cryonics patient is an act to served. I

www.alcor.org Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 17 TEENS AND TWENTIES Meetup Strengthens Links between Cryonics Generations

From left: Shannon Blevins, Amanda Blevins, Cairn Idun. ______By Mike Perry

ne big problem in cryonics is that attendees as well.) In all, 48 persons attended currently fund cryonics-related causes to the all of us are growing older. Barring at least part-time, including 33 scholarship extent of millions of dollars per year; a Omedical miracles the day is coming, recipients. Also included were members of major portion goes to scientific research.) fairly soon, when we must take our places in Cairn’s Asset Preservation Group, and yours the dewars and trust our lives and fates to the truly as a “special guest.” Cryonicists from hands of others. Meanwhile the world at the three major American organizations large is showing scant interest in our attempt (Alcor, American Cryonics Society, Cryonics to defeat death. So much, then, is resting in Institute) as well as the Russian company the hands of a relative handful of younger KrioRus were there. By common consensus cryonicists who must take up where we are the meeting was a rousing success, with forced to leave off. Recognizing this, Cairn younger attendees meeting some of us older Idun, a longtime cryonics signup, activist, and veterans as well as getting better acquainted organizer, came up with the idea of a “Teens among themselves. Below are some high- and Twenties: Getting to Know You” lights; Ben Best, who attended and who is the meetup, which she created and coordinated. president of the Cryonics Institute, has also John Lobell makes a point during his lecture. The gathering was funded by Bill Faloon and written an account of the event which I’ve Philip Irions listens. the Life Extension Foundation (LEF), and used as a reference. ______was held at the Hilton Hotel, Deerfield First, the problem for me and two Beach, Florida, January 8-10. To encourage others who came from the Phoenix area that Next there were short introductions; younger cryonicists to attend, scholarships Friday morning (Bonnie Magee, Jaime each attendee related, in a minute or two, were offered covering travel, accommoda- Cohen) was getting there. The 9:52 a.m. who they were and their interest in cryonics. tions and meals, to those with cryonics departure time for the nonstop to Ft. An oft-repeated sentiment was that, while arrangements who were between ages 12 and Lauderdale would put us down at 4:06 p.m., they were willing to go “against the grain” of 30. (Meals alone were covered for other with plenty of time for the short shuttle ride conventional thinking in their quest for to our destination, for the opening cere- longer, more meaningful life, there was also monies which started at 7. Unfortunately, an a need for all of us “pulling together.” The engine problem forced us to switch to a new introductions were in progress when the aircraft—when it became available—so our three of us straggled in, so we were able to flight was delayed about 4 hours and we tack ours on the end (and also have supper, didn’t get to the meeting until about 8:45. which had been served to the others earlier). Bill Faloon had given his introduction, The next and final “getting to know recalling how, as a 19-year-old in the 1970s, you” exercise that evening involved the par- wealthy cryonicists had sponsored his atten- ticipants classifying themselves by person- dance at a cryonics training and life- ality type represented by four colors: Main meeting place: Hibiscus Room, extension gathering, and expressed hope Green—Conceptual, Curious, Wise, Deerfield Beach Hilton Hotel, Florida that this LEF-sponsored gathering, too, Versatile (intellectual, head rules heart). ______would bear worthy fruit as had the earlier Blue—Warm, Communicative, Compas- one. (Bill and his business partner Saul Kent sionate, Feeling (seeks harmonious relationships).

18 Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 www.alcor.org Gold—Responsible, Dependable, General Manager Catherine Baldwin. (SA is Finally, after Help-ful, Sensible (dutiful, family-oriented, nearby and can handle cryopreservation and dinner and some organization-oriented). preliminaries in the Florida area. Both Alcor technical problems Red—Adventuresome, Skillful, Com- and Cryonics Institute have used their (temporary power petitive, Spontaneous (seeks variety and services.) In third place Bill Faloon outage) Stephen physical involvement). addressed some problems in cryonics, Valentine told us Colored sheets were handed out that including setting up an insurance company about the Timeship described each personality color in detail so for cryonicists. (It will require substantial project, his dream we could judge how much of our personality capitalization but he appears to be quite that needs “only” corresponded to each color. We then put serious about seeing it through, when the $200 million to be dots of the corresponding colors on our time is right.) realized. It will be a name badges, in the amount we considered very large cryonics appropriate. Overall, green was somewhat storage facility, in a dominant but there were many exceptions, Danila Medvedev of currently undis- KrioRus; glasses mainly “reds.” (For me, green seemed closed location, an constantly record slightly dominant, followed by gold, what is seen and architectural master- followed a little more distantly by blue. I heard. piece and cryopolis. avoided red because in the handout it ______I tried to find out if described this kind of person as “live for the there were plans to moment.” Cairn, however, just said “you’re start up a new cryonics organization or just gold.” For what it’s worth, I do think the to lease space to existing organizations. “gold” type is important for sustaining a Apparently this is still being decided. movement and “sticking it out” as long as After this in theory everybody got a may be necessary. Keeping the movement good, long, night’s sleep in view of the very going, especially at the “wet end” of actual full day of activities just passed, with more patient storage and maintenance, requires From left: Chase Faloon, Bill Faloon, to follow on the morrow. I understand, unusual dedication.) Stephen Valentine though, that there was celebrating and ______partying by some that went on for a good while. Anyway, as the closing performance A break in the presentations at this on Sunday we toured Suspended point was filled by the inauguration of five Animation, Catherine Baldwin serving as special-interest groups, with attendees free host. The group was split into about 4 or 5 to join as many or as few as they wished. subsets and each took the tour in turn, two These groups were formed to address, in the pipeline at once. Old videos were respectively, (1) scientific research, (2) legal also shown that Curtis Henderson had issues, (3) outreach and social networking, made available, The Icemen Cometh (4) defending cryonics on the Internet, and (freezing of Herman Greenberg, May (5) promoting cryonics through entertain- 1970) and another one on the Cryonics ment media. Society of New York that appears to have been made earlier, in the late 1960s. Then Catherine Baldwin addresses the group. Cairn had the whole group play a kind of ______game where people had 2 minutes to talk to different others before going to the next person. A way to get acquainted, yes, but I The next day (Saturday) was devoted to tended to get into involved conversations more-formal presentations by invited that too suddenly had to terminate. This speakers, interspersed with more “getting to went on until it got time to leave for the know you” activities. Futurist John Lobell airport. In all though, it was a wonderful opened with an optimistic talk about the gathering; I understand Bill Faloon wants progress of nanotechnology and the to make it an annual event. I nearness of the Singularity, one consequence of which (out of many) should be resuscita- Mark Voelker (left) and Rudi Hoffman tion of cryonics patients. After this were discuss issues during a dinner break. longer introductions, followed by a talk ______about Suspended Animation, Inc. by

www.alcor.org Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 19 By Mike Perry

Introduction ment of autopsy. In what follows I first achievable someday, if technological As cryonicists we want to be cryopre- consider preliminaries—what can be done in advances continue. The question then served with mental faculties intact. advance of any problem—then interven- becomes whether the preservation will, in Prospects for this are threatened if one has tions, including but not limited to voluntary fact, be good enough to be worthwhile to a brain disorder such as malignancy or stopping of eating and drinking, to be used the individual concerned, and what Alzheimer’s disease. To best counter such a when physical symptoms of varying severity measures are reasonable to take in anticipa- physical threat, if it should occur, one wishes occur. tion of problems that may arise. to have cryopreservation performed as soon Not everyone will agree that a certain as possible. But there are problems. Preliminaries measure is worthwhile, for example, sepa- We in cryonics see cryopreservation as a Cryonics arrangements themselves are rately storing a cell sample in case something medical procedure, but this is not recognized the basic preliminary for addressing the should happen to one’s cryopreserved legally. With a normal medical operation, problem of one’s clinical death, whatever remains. (In this way a clone of oneself one might be anesthetized and the operation might be involved. At the time arrangements might be produced, which could then be performed without much fanfare. With are made some thought should be put into “programmed” with memories and other cryonics, the procedure can be started only the possibility that intervention may be personality elements captured in data files. A after the patient is legally dead (possibly needed to escape damage to the brain, or version of oneself could then emerge that barring a few jurisdictions, which have not that mental impairment may occur despite would be very similar in thoughts and yet been used, and not counting pets). A cry- any efforts to avoid it. Stating one’s wishes behavior to the original, and from some but onicist with a brain-threatening disorder and preferences in writing is a good starting not all points of view would qualify as a might want to hasten his/her legal death so strategy which can be worked out with one’s bona fide resurrection of that individual.) the procedure can be started in a timely cryonics service provider. With this in mind I mention that a number fashion, but there is the additional complica- Among the desirable choices is for a of options exist for indefinitely storing both tion that cases of “suicide” are normally durable power of attorney to make decisions digitized or other recorded data and genomic subject to mandatory autopsy which is in case one is incapacitated. Saving personal samples. Some organizations that are strongly highly damaging to the preservation process. information in such forms as notes, diaries, sympathetic to cryonics are the Society for So what are we to do? There are many photos, and audio or video clips is also highly Venturism (http://www.venturist.org), the options, but perhaps the most attractive is to advisable as a way to allow reconstructions of Society for Universal Immortalism follow the advice of the New England memory in case the brain is inadequately (http://www.universalimmortalism. org), Journal of Medicine: “Because physician- preserved. If possible, one should choose and Terasem. As of this writing, the Society assisted death is not available to most termi- one’s associates to be sympathetic and under- for Universal Immortalism would be nally ill patients, some medical experts have standing of the intentions and procedures of amenable to storing both digital or other suggested voluntary refusal of food and cryonics. A friendly, supportive community of recorded information and genomic samples fluids as an alternative. Unlike physician- fellow cryonicists will help ensure the best at room temperature (resin-embedded for assisted suicide, the choice to stop eating and results. example). The Society for Venturism is a drinking is legal throughout the United Some discussion is in order about “maybe” on both counts, though perhaps States, available to competent patients, and philosophical issues. Resuscitation from stronger on “digital” than “genomic.” does not necessarily require the participation cryopreservation is a subject that has many Terasem at present is strictly “digital”: their of a physician.”1 Death occurring from such divergent points of view even among those CyBeRev and LifeNaut p r o j e c t s a choice is treated as “natural,” and there is who accept the basic idea of cryonics. Most (http://www.cyberev.org, no danger or stigma to attending caregivers agree that with good preservation resuscita- http://www.lifenaut.com) store “mindfiles” whose presence could obviate the require- tion is a worthwhile goal that might be and other personal data from which they

20 Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 www.alcor.org hope to recreate individuals, if no other data the medical establishment. Starvation/dehy- Summary and Afterthoughts about them survives. dration is still arguably the best means of In confronting the possibility of brain- Other possibilities for information hastening one’s death to escape brain impair- threatening illness and mental impairment, storage exist but all are presently underdevel- ment or otherwise speed one’s cryo- cryonicists have two sorts of options, (1) oped and underutilized for the purpose of preservation. preparation in advance, (2) intervention backing up cryopreservations. Feedback States in which assisted suicide is legal when symptoms appear. Preparing in from interested parties is badly needed. (currently Oregon, Washington, and advance includes choosing someone to act Montana) allow that a physician can as representative and decision maker if one Brain Disorders: Dealing with prescribe lethal medication which then must is incapacitated, and also, storing informa- Symptoms be self-administered by the patient (rather tion to be used in restoring damaged Dementias and malignant brain tumors than administered by another party). To date memory or other brain functions. are things we hope we never have to no cryonicist has attempted to use the Interventive strategies when symptoms of confront. Unfortunately they happen all too assisted suicide law of any of these jurisdic- intractable brain illness appear, include ways often so we must be prepared as far as tions to hasten deanimation. It would to hasten one’s deanimation so cryo- possible. Very often the cryonics member arguably be very risky to do so, in view of preservation can halt the destructive process. has advance warning. A diagnosis is made the unconventional nature of cryonics, At present the safest such strategy appears that provides a time window before serious which might invite bureaucratic interference. to be voluntary stopping of eating and impairment can be expected. A reasonable drinking. Deanimation is hastened in a way course would be to deanimate before such VSED: The Best Option for Now that is considered “natural” and does not has occurred. Due to laws in most jurisdic- In balance it appears that voluntary require autopsy, so that cryoprotective pro- tions, however, cryopreservation procedures stopping of eating and drinking is the best cedures can begin without interference. cannot simply be started as in the case of a of currently available means to hasten one’s The situation of course is far from pet but special approaches must be used. A deanimation without inviting autopsy or ideal. Ideally, cryopreservation would be simple, straightforward approach in the case legal recriminations. The following summary treated as a medical procedure which could of a brain malignancy might be voluntary of VSED is adapted, with kind permission, be freely chosen and started at any reason- stopping of eating and drinking (VSED) from a review by David Brandt-Erichsen of able time. This appears to be a long way off. until clinical death occurs. This can be the book, A Hastened Death by Self-Denial of Meanwhile we must work together to accomplished with hospitalization or Food and Drink, by Boudewijn Chabot, MD, increase whatever options are feasible. This hospice care, as has occurred with some PhD (Amsterdam, 2008, 64 pages; available is a matter that affects us all, since we all Alcor cases I’ve witnessed. from the Hemlock Society, email to have a terminal disorder (aging) which can One public case of this sort was Arlene [email protected]).3 The author, who in drastically impair our mental functioning. I Fried who was cryopreserved (as a neuro or the book refers to the method as STopping head-only) at Alcor’s facility in Riverside, Eating and Drinking (STED), studied 110 References California in June 1990.2 Ms. Fried, who is cases of VSED in the Netherlands. His Linda Chamberlain’s mother, had the loving, book is a practical guide to VSED for both 1Linda Ganzini, M.D., M.P.H., attentive support of her daughter and her patients and health care givers. Elizabeth R. Goy, Ph.D., Lois L. Miller, son-in-law Fred Chamberlain, two cryonics If water intake is stopped completely Ph.D., R.N., Theresa A. Harvath, R.N., pioneers who well understood and sympa- rather than tapered off, VSED takes about Ph.D., Ann Jackson, M.B.A. and Molly thized with her views and what she was two weeks to cause death by dehydration; A. Delorit, B.A., “Nurses’ Experiences attempting. Ms. Fried was cared for during death is almost certain within 16 days. The with Hospice Patients Who Refuse approximately 10 days while her VSED was discomfort involved is generally mild but Food and Fluids to Hasten Death,” in progress, receiving only some moistening will vary with individuals. Hunger usually New England Journal of Medicine of her lips and mouth from time, and very disappears after a couple of days, and after a 2003, 349:359-365 (July 24, 2003), limited amounts of fluid internally. She week of fasting, metabolic by-products http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/ bravely toughed it out and accomplished her generally cause a sense of well-being, even NEJMsa035086#articleMethods mission of cryopreservation, escaping both elation. Electrolyte imbalance (especially (accessed 26 Jul 2010). potassium loss) eventually causes cardiac the ravages of the tumor in her head and the 2Linda Chamberlain, “Her Blue Eyes arrest during sleep. autopsy that would have followed had she Will Sparkle,” Cryonics Dec. 1990, The bowels should be cleansed at the chosen an easier “exit.” 16, start of VSED to avoid gastric distress later In her case the burden was lightened, to http://www.alcor.org/cryonics/cryonics on. The most important comfort measure is some degree at least, by the fact that her 9012.txt (accessed 22 Apr 2010). adequate mouth care. The mouth can be illness (actually lung cancer metastasized to 3 the brain), was legally “terminal.” Thanks to kept moist with small amounts of ice chips, http://www.choicesarizona.org/files/N this, hospital personnel were more sympa- sugar-free popsicles or gum, or saliva substi- ewsletter-2009-1.pdf, 8 (accessed 22 thetic and beneficial to the course that was tutes. VSED itself generally does not require Apr 2010). followed. A slower-acting but still lethal pain medication but the patient’s other My thanks to David Brandt-Erichsen, brain malady such as Alzheimer’s is not health problems may require it for palliative Hugh Hixon, Cairn Idun, and Ralph similarly classed as “terminal” and victims care. Benzodiazepines (such as Valium) may Merkle in preparing this article. may find it harder to obtain assistance from be prescribed for anxiety if needed.

www.alcor.org Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 21 LONG LIFE? Author: Robert Begam [Dallas, TX: Durban House Press, 2008]

book review by Mike Perry

veteran trial lawyer with a penchant for In the fictional scene Rebecca, technically courtroom fiction, Robert Begam at least, is guilty of premeditated murder, which Aachieved critical acclaim with his first can indeed bring the death penalty in Arizona. novel, Fireball (1987). He now offers a The motive, the prosecuting attorney says, is cliffhanger sequel which in fact is a tale about clear enough: money. Omega Terrace has a cryonics. million-dollar minimum signup fee (real Kent Eastman, a young adventurer with a cryonics organizations charge much less) but Ph.D. in physics, is injured in a skiing accident there are advantages such as providing for high- and gets AIDS from a bad blood transfusion. quality standby services anywhere in the world He has meanwhile made acquaintance with and supporting expensive research and legal Rebecca Adler, the young CEO of the services. (Mr. Eastman, it turns out, was not As for cryonics, the author is right on Scottsdale, Arizona-based Omega Terrace initially wealthy but his AIDS case leaves him target for most of it, though his version is by which does high-priced human cryo- with a multimillion-dollar malpractice now a little dated, centering around glycerol- preservations. As the end approaches he makes judgment.) based perfusion and “freezing” rather than a decision based on his hopes of seeing the The issue of “is the victim really dead?” is newer procedures that achieve vitrification and future despite his illness. “My head is still argued at length in the trial and presents the minimize ice-crystal damage. In one place it working,” he tells Rebecca, “but my body is case for the likely viability of cryonics patients also reports that Walt Disney was frozen. rotting away, and before this disease starts based on the prospects of future cell-repair (Records say he was cremated, despite some eating at my brain, I want out. I want you to technologies and the like. In addition there is apparent interest, when he died in December freeze me, suspend me.” Rebecca is horrified at the fact that Mr. Eastman signed consent forms 1966.) These are minor blemishes, however. As the risk he is asking her to take—to give him a and in other ways made his wishes and mental a sort of humorous disclaimer at the beginning premortem preservation, inviting charges of competence abundantly clear. So, should the the author pays tribute to “my beautiful Helen” homicide—but out of sympathy and compas- person who assisted him in doing what he who agreed to review the manuscript “only sion agrees to help. Kent, now wheelchair- wanted be punished, killed, in fact, or after I promised that if she predeceased me I bound but still alert, visits the facility with his commended for her compassionate action and would not have her frozen.” For those of us in parents who understand and accept his inten- maybe even rewarded for her trouble? cryonics this sort of thing is unfortunate, but tions, though his mother is conflicted with Most readers of the book, though not cry- something we must live with. The book in any religious misgivings. Taking personal charge onicists, would, I think, sympathize with the case can be commended for its thoughtful when backs are turned Rebecca starts the defendant, and the book is really not about treatment of both cryonics and the delicate procedure. Despite efforts at concealment the whether she is in the right but whether right will subject of euthanasia. I secret leaks out and she is charged with capital prevail. Will she, along with her organization murder. Joe Purcell, fresh from his victory in and their voluntary clients including Mr. About the the Fireball case, is asked to defend. At first the Eastman, escape serious harm? (Again, Author case looks hopeless but he hits on the strategy homicide victims are autopsied under the law.) of raising the issue, is the victim really dead? The forces arrayed against her are formidable. Robert Begam At this point I’m thinking, great story so far, By the letter of the law she is guilty as charged but the case does look hopeless. What do you do? Two and admits it. The prosecutor, Scott “Scroogie” A graduate of decades ago Thomas Donaldson, a real-life Novak, has skills to match his opponent, the college and brain cancer patient, sought permission in the Purcell, and is equally determined to win the law school of California courts for a premortem cryo- case. Eastman’s father dies and his mother, Yale University, preservation and was turned down. The convinced her son’s choice was against the will Robert Begam is the founding arguments against him were based straightfor- of God, decides to side with the prosecution partner of Begam, Lewis & Marks, a wardly on legal definitions. Cryopreserved and testify against the defendant. nationally prominent law firm of liti- people meet the criteria for legal death just the In short it’s a cliffhanger story, laced with gation specialists. Long recognized same as if they were buried or cremated. wit, humor, and copious knowledge of the as one of the most skillful trial Anyone assisting in a premortem cryo- practices and personalities of those whose lawyers in the United States, he is preservation would be complicit in a homicide. livelihood centers around the courts. Read it. past president of the Association of Homicide victims are autopsied, in addition to Whether you are a cryonicist or not I think Trial Lawyers of America, comprising the complications for the perpetrators. you’ll find it worth your while, as I did. 60,000 trial lawyers in all 50 states.

22 Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 www.alcor.org Membership Statistics

On December 31, 2009, Alcor had 913 members on its Emergency Responsibility List. During the year of 2009 63 memberships were approved, 4 memberships were rein- stated, 24 memberships were cancelled and 5 members were cryopreserved. Overall, there was a net gain of 38 members for the year of 2009 to date.

The chart on the left displays the year-end monthly average net gain since 2002.

Take a look at the ALCOR BLOG www.alcornews.org/weblog

Your source for news about: Cryonics technology Cryopreservation cases Television programs about cryonics Speaking events and meetings Employment opportunities

www.alcor.org Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 23 Tech News R. Michael Perry, Ph.D.

Solar Cells Made through recently disputed the 2035 figure, and Jean- plasma is far less of a problem than Oil-and-Water “Self-Assembly” Pascal van Ypersele told BBC News that it expected. The report is based on the first was an error and would be reviewed. But he experiments from the National Ignition Researchers have demonstrated a simple, said it did not change the broad picture of Facility (Nif) in the US that used all 192 of cheap way to create self-assembling elec- man-made climate change. The issue, which its laser beams. Along the way, the experi- tronic devices using a property crucial to BBC News first reported on 05 December, ments smashed the record for the highest salad dressings. It uses the fact that oil- and has reverberated around climate websites in energy from a laser—by a factor of 20. water-based liquids do not mix, forming recent days. Some commentators maintain Construction of the National Ignition devices from components that align along that taken together with the contents of e- Facility began at Lawrence Livermore the boundary between the two. The idea mails stolen last year from the University of National Laboratory, Calif. in 1997, and was joins a raft of approaches toward self- East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit, it formally completed in May 2009. The goal, assembly, but lends itself particularly well to undermines the credibility of climate as its name implies, is to harness the power small components. The work is reported in science. Dr van Ypersele said this was not of the largest laser ever built to start Proceedings of the National Academy of the case. “I don’t see how one mistake in a “ignition”—effectively a carefully controlled Sciences. Crucially, it could allow the large- 3,000-page report can damage the credibility thermonuclear explosion. According to Nif scale assembly of high-quality electronic of the overall report,” he said. “Some people plasma scientist Dr. Siegfried Glenzer, “It’s components on materials of just about any will attempt to use it to damage the credi- going to happen this year.” type, in contrast to “inkjet printed” elec- bility of the IPCC; but if we can uncover it, tronics or some previous self-assembly tech- and explain it and change it, it should niques. Such efforts have until now exploited strengthen the IPCC’s credibility, showing the effect of gravity, assembling devices that we are ready to learn from our through so-called “sedimentation”. In this mistakes.” approach, “blank” devices are etched with depressions to match precisely-shaped com- ponents. Simply dumped into a liquid, the components should settle down into the blank device like sand onto a riverbed, in just The experiment focuses 192 laser beams the right places. “That’s what we tried for at to a tiny target. least two years and we were never able to assemble these components with high yield - BBC News Neither satellites nor ground observations 1/28/10 gravity wasn’t working,” said Heiko Jacobs give a complete picture. of the University of Minnesota, who led the http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ research. science/nature/8485669.stm BBC News ______BBC News 1/19/10 1/12/10 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ Genes Reveal “Biological http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ science/nature/8468358.stm Aging” science/nature/8452912.stm ______Gene variants that might show how fast Laser Fusion Test Results people’s bodies are actually aging have been UN Climate Body Raise Energy Hopes pinpointed by scientists. Researchers from the Admits “Mistake” on University of Leicester and Kings College A major hurdle to producing fusion energy London say the finding could help spot Himalayan Glaciers using lasers has been swept aside, results in a people at higher risk of age-related illnesses. new report show. The controlled fusion of People carrying the variant had differences in The vice-chairman of the UN’s climate atoms—creating conditions like those in our the “biological clock” within all their cells. science panel has admitted it made a mistake Sun—has long been touted as a possible rev- The British Heart Foundation said the in asserting that Himalayan glaciers could olutionary energy source. However, there findings could offer a clue to ways of pre- disappear by 2035. The Intergovernmental have been doubts about the use of powerful venting heart disease. While doctors know Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) included lasers for fusion energy because the that as people age they are more at risk from the date in its 2007 assessment of climate “plasma” they create could interrupt the diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and impacts. A number of scientists have fusion. An article in Science showed the heart disease, some people fall prey to these at

24 Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 www.alcor.org an earlier age than expected. One theory Those who were most closely following a available for about the same price as suggests that biological timers called Mediterranean-like diet were 36 percent less ordinary jet fuels. The military is the largest “telomeres,” part of the chromosomes in likely to have areas of brain damage than single consumer of energy in the US, and a every cell that carry genetic code, may be a those who were least following the diet. cheap alternative to oil would reduce the 60- factor in this. Professor Tim Spector, from Those moderately following the diet were 21 75 million barrels of oil currently consumed King’s College London, said: “What our percent less likely to have brain damage than by military operations. Scientists at the study suggests is that some people are genet- the lowest group. Defense Advanced Research Projects ically programmed to age at a faster rate. Agency (DARPA) have already successfully Alternatively, genetically susceptible people ScienceDaily extracted oil from algal ponds; large-scale may age even faster when exposed to proven 2/9/10 refining of the oil is now about to begin. ‘bad’ environments for telomeres such as http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/ Special assistant for energy with DARPA, smoking, obesity or lack of exercise—and 2010/02/100208185158.htm Barbara McQuiston, said unrefined oil end up several years biologically older or suc- ______produced from algae currently costs $2 per cumbing to more age-related diseases.” gallon, but the cost is projected to reduce to Drug Created to Keep Tumor around $1. The refined and processed jet Growth Switched Off fuel is expected to cost under $3 per gallon. The refining operation would produce 50 A novel—and rapid—anti-cancer drug million gallons of oil derived from algae development strategy has resulted in a new each year and is expected to begin full-scale drug that stops kidney and pancreatic operations in 2011. Each acre of algal farm tumors from growing in mice. Researchers at pond can produce 1,000 gallons of oil. The the Moores Cancer Center at the University projects are run by private companies Telomeres at the end of chromosomes of California, San Diego, have found a drug General Atomics and SAIC. One advantage shorten with age. that binds to a molecular “switch” found in of algae over other biofuels such as ethanol cancer cells and cancer-associated blood derived from corn or sugar is that they do BBC News vessels to keep it in the “off ” position. “We not compete with land use for food, and 2/8/09 locked the kinase switch in the off position algae can be grown in brackish water or http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ in cancer and in tumor-associated blood waste water. The fuel theoretically produces health/8500761.stm vessels,” which differs from the way current zero carbon emissions. ______inhibitors attempt to block active kinases, said David Cheresh, PhD, who led the work. PhysOrg.com Mediterranean Diet May Lower The new approach employs scaffold-based 2/16/10 Risk of Brain Damage That chemistry combined with supercomputer http://www.physorg.com/ news185521814.html Causes Thinking Problems technology, allowing for rapid screening and development of drugs that are more ______A Mediterranean diet may help people avoid selective for the tumor. The development the small areas of brain damage that can lead and screening processes were used to A Machine that Prints Organs to problems with thinking and memory, identify potential drug candidates able to Is Coming to Market according to a study that will be presented at halt a growth signaling enzyme, or kinase, the American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd which can foster tumor blood vessel and The great hope of transplant surgeons is Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April tumor growth. According to the researchers, that they will, one day, be able to order 17, 2010. The study found that people who the novel approach may become a useful replacement body parts on demand. At the ate a Mediterranean-like diet were less likely strategy in cancer drug development. The moment, a patient may wait months, to have brain infarcts, or small areas of dead study appears online the week of February sometimes years, for an organ from a tissue linked to thinking problems. The 8, 2010, in the Proceedings of the National suitable donor. During that time his Mediterranean diet includes high intake of Academy of Sciences. condition may worsen. He may even die. vegetables, legumes, fruits, cereals, fish and The ability to make organs as they are monounsaturated fatty acids such as olive oil; ScienceDaily needed would not only relieve suffering but low intake of saturated fatty acids, dairy 2/14/10 also save lives. And that possibility may be products, meat and poultry; and mild to http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/ closer with the arrival of the first commer- moderate amounts of alcohol. For the study, 2010/02/100211175217.htm cial 3D bio-printer for manufacturing researchers assessed the diets of 712 people ______human tissue and organs. The new machine, in New York and divided them into three which costs around $200,000, has been groups based on how closely they were US Military to Make Jet Fuel developed by Organovo, a company in San following the Mediterranean diet. Then they from Algae Diego that specializes in regenerative conducted MRI brain scans of the people an medicine, and Invetech, an engineering and average of six years later. A total of 238 If military researchers in the US are right, jet automation firm in Melbourne, Australia. people had at least one area of brain damage. fuel produced from algae may soon be One of Organovo’s founders, Gabor Forgacs of the University of Missouri,

www.alcor.org Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 25 developed the prototype on which the new predicting—with up to 99 percent accuracy— Academy of Sciences, opens a powerful, 3D bio-printer is based. The first production the fate of stem cells. Using advanced mathematical route for conducting stem cell models will soon be delivered to research computer vision technology to detect subtle research and shows the power of interdisci- groups which, like Dr Forgacs’s, are studying cell movements that are impossible to discern plinary collaborations in science. It also ways to produce tissue and organs for repair with the human eye, Professor Badri Roysam demonstrates that using computers to mine and replacement. At present much of this and his former student Andrew Cohen can existing databases can radically accelerate work is done by hand or by adapting existing successfully forecast how a stem cell will split research in the laboratory. Ultimately, it may instruments and devices. and what key characteristics the daughter cells lead to advances in diverse areas of medicine will exhibit. By allowing the isolation of cells such as disease diagnosis or cancer therapy. The Economist with specific capabilities, this discovery could 2/18/10 one day lead to effective methods for growing ScienceDaily http://www.economist.com/ stem cells on a large scale for therapeutic use. 3/16/10 science-technology/ “If you have many cells in a culture, they all http://www.sciencedaily.com/ displaystory.cfm?story_id=15543683 look the same. But our new method senses all releases/2010/03/100315161915.htm ______sorts of tiny differences in the shapes and ______movements of the cells, and uses these cues “Lame” Mosquitoes to to predict what kind of cells it will divide Reversal of the Developmental Stop Dengue into,” said Roysam. “We believe this method Aging of Normal Human Cells will be beneficial for one day taking cells from Scientists are breeding a genetically altered a patient, and then growing large amounts of BioTime, Inc. (NYSE Amex:BTIM), a strain of mosquito in an effort to curb the the kind of cells that patient is in need of. biotechnology company that develops and spread of dengue fever. The dengue virus is This could enable many new and exciting markets products in the field of stem cells spread by the bite of infected female mosqui- types of medical treatments using stem cells.” and regenerative medicine, on Mar. 16 toes and there is no vaccine or treatment. Results of the study, titled “Computational announced publication of a scientific paper Experts say the illness affects up to 100 million prediction of neural progenitor cell fates,” titled “Spontaneous Reversal of people a year and threatens over a third of the were published recently in the journal Nature Developmental Aging in Normal Human world’s population. Scientists hope their genet- Methods. Cells Following Transcriptional ically altered males will mate with females to Reprogramming.” The article was released create female offspring that will inherit a gene Clone Age online in the peer-reviewed journal limiting wing growth, making them unable to 3/3/10 Regenerative Medicine in advance of the fly. The study is published in Proceedings of http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/ print publication. Using precise genetic mod- the National Academy of Sciences. The scien- Predicting_The_Fate_Of_Stem_ ifications, normal human cells were induced tists say their approach offers a safe, efficient Cells_999.html to reverse both the “clock” of differentiation alternative to harmful insecticides and could be ______(the process by which an embryonic stem cell used to stop other diseases spread by mosqui- becomes the many specialized differentiated toes, like malaria. Researcher Professor Computational Feat Speeds cell types of the body), and the “clock” of Anthony James, of the University of Finding of Genes to cellular aging (telomere length). The on-line California, Irvine, said: “Current dengue Milliseconds Instead of Years version of the article can be found at control methods are not sufficiently effective, http://www.futuremedicine.com/ and new ones are urgently needed.” Like a magician who says, “Pick a card, any doi/abs/10.2217/rme.10.21. “This is just the card,” Stanford University computer beginning of some really fascinating new pos- scientist Debashis Sahoo, PhD, seemed to be sibilities for intervening in age-related offering some kind of trick when he asked disease,” said Michael D. West, Ph.D., researchers at the Stanford Institute for president and chief executive officer of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative BioTime. “We believe that these technologies Medicine to pick any two genes already will have a significant impact on the future of known to be involved in stem cell develop- medicine. However, it is important to under- ment. Finding such genes can take years and score that much work needs to be done to BBC News hundreds of thousands of dollars, but translate these findings into safe and effica- 2/23/10 Sahoo was promising the skeptical stem cell cious therapies.” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ scientists that, in a fraction of a second and health/8528417.stm for practically zero cost, he could find new Earthtimes ______genes involved in the same developmental 3/16/10 pathway as the two genes provided. Sahoo http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/ Predicting the Fate of Stem Cells went on to show that this amazing feat could show/biotime-inc-reports-peer- actually be performed. The proof-of- reviewed-scientific,1206294.shtml Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic principle for his idea, to be published online ______Institute have discovered a new method for March 15 in the Proceedings of the National

26 Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 www.alcor.org Meetings

About the Alcor Foundation [email protected] or (503) 756- The Alcor Life Extension Foundation is a nonprofit tax-exempt scientific and edu- 0864. http://www.cryonicsoregon.com/ cational organization dedicated to advancing the science of cryopreservation and promoting it as a rational option. Being an Alcor member means knowing that— A Yahoo group is also maintained for should the worst happen—Alcor’s Emergency Response Team is ready to respond cryonics activities in the Pacific Northwest for you, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. at http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/ group/CryonicsNW/. Alcor’s Emergency Response capability includes specially trained technicians and customized equipment in Arizona, northern California, southern California, and ALCOR PORTUGAL south Florida, as well as many additional certified technicians on-call around the United States. Alcor’s Arizona facility includes a full-time staff, and the Patient Alcor Portugal is working to have good Care Bay is personally monitored 24 hours a day. stabilization and transport capabilities. The group meets every Saturday for two hours. ARIZONA DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA For information about meetings, contact Nuno Martins at n-martins@n- Scottsdale: Life Extension Society, Inc. is a martins.com. The Alcor Portugal website This group meets the third Friday of each cryonics and life extension group with is: www.alcorportugal.com. month and gatherings are hosted at a home members from Washington, D.C., near Alcor. To RSVP, visit Virginia, and Maryland. Meetings are TEXAS http://cryonics.meetup.com/45/. held monthly. Contact Secretary Keith Lynch at [email protected]. For Dallas: At Alcor: information on LES, see our web site at North Texas Cryonauts, please sign up for Alcor Board of Directors Meetings and www.keithlynch.net/les. our announcements list for meetings Facility Tours – Alcor business meetings (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ are generally held on the first Saturday of FLORIDA cryonauts-announce) or contact David every month starting at 11:00 AM MST. Wallace Croft at (214) 636-3790 for details Guests are welcome. Facility tours are held Central Florida Life Extension group meets of upcoming meetings. every Tuesday and Friday at 2:00 PM. For once a month in the Tampa Bay area more information or to schedule a tour, (Tampa and St. Petersburg) for discussion Austin/Central Texas: call D’Bora Tarrant at (877) 462-5267 x and socializing. The group has been active We meet at least quarterly for training, 101 or email [email protected]. since 2007. Email transport kit updates, and discussion. For [email protected] for more infor- information: Steve Jackson, 512-447-7866, CALIFORNIA mation. [email protected].

Los Angeles: NEW ENGLAND UNITED KINGDOM Alcor Southern California Meetings— For information, call Peter Voss at Cambridge: There is an Alcor chapter in England. (310) 822-4533 or e-mail him at The New England regional group strives Its members are working diligently to build [email protected]. Although monthly to meet monthly in Cambridge, MA – for solid emergency response, transport, and meetings are not held regularly, you can information or to be added to the cryopreservation capability. For informa- meet Los Angeles Alcor members by AlcorNE mailing list, please contact Bret tion about meetings, contact Alan Sinclair contacting Peter. Kulakovich at 617-824-8982, alcor@bon- at [email protected]. See the web fireproductions.com, or on FACEBOOK site at www.alcor-uk.org. San Francisco Bay: via the Cryonics Special Interest Group. Alcor Northern California Meetings are held quarterly in January, April, July, and OREGON October. A CryoFeast is held once a year. If you are interested in hosting regular For information on Northern California Portland: meetings in your area, contact Alcor at meetings, call Mark Galecki at (408) 245- Cryonics Oregon holds regular meetings 877-462-5267 ext. 113. Meetings are a 4928 or email [email protected]. every 2-3 months for members of great way to learn about cryonics, meet cryonics organizations living in Portland others with similar interests,and and the surrounding areas. For informa- introduce your friends and family to tion, please contact Chana de Wolf at Alcor members!

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28 Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 www.alcor.org What is Cryonics?

ryonics is an attempt to preserve and protect the gift of human life, not reverse death. It is the spec- Culative practice of using extreme cold to preserve the life of a person who can no longer be supported by today’s medicine. Will future medicine, including mature nanotechnology, have the ability to heal at the cellular and molecular levels? Can cryonics successfully carry the cryopreserved person forward through time, for however many decades or centuries might be necessary, until the cryo- preservation process can be reversed and the person restored to full health? While cryonics may sound like science fiction, there is a basis for it in real science. The complete scientific story of cryonics is seldom told in media reports, leaving cryonics widely misunderstood. We invite you to reach your own conclusions.

How do I find out more?

he Alcor Life Extension Foundation is the world leader in cryonics research and technology. Alcor Tis a non-profit organization located in Scottsdale, Arizona, founded in 1972. Our website is one of the best sources of detailed introductory information about Alcor and cryopreservation (www.alcor.org). We also invite you to request our FREE information package on the “Free Information” section of our website. It includes:

• A fully illustrated color brochure • A sample of our magazine • An application for membership and brochure explaining how to join • And more!

Your free package should arrive in 1-2 weeks. (The complete package will be sent free in the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom.)

How do I enroll? Signing up for a cryopreservation is easy! Step 1: Fill out an application and submit it with your $150 application fee. Step 2: You will then be sent a set of contracts to review and sign. Step 3: Fund your cryopreservation. While most people use life insurance to fund their cryopreservation, other forms of prepayment are also accepted. Alcor’s Membership Coordinator can provide you with a list of insurance agents familiar with satisfying Alcor’s current funding requirements. Finally: After enrolling, you will wear emergency alert tags or carry a special card in your wallet. This is your confirmation that Alcor will respond immediately to an emergency call on your behalf.

Call toll-free today to start your application: 877-462-5267 ext. 132 [email protected] www.alcor.org

www.alcor.org Cryonics/First Quarter 2010 29