If the person you are contacting us about HAS ALREADY DIED and IS NOT a Cryonics Institute
(CI) Member, you must understand the following:
1. If the deceased person in question has already been buried, CI cannot
accept that person as a patient.
2. If the deceased person in question has died and not been cooled in any
manner for more than two days, CI cannot accept that person as a patient.
3. If the brain of the deceased person has been autopsied,
CI cannot accept that person as a patient.
4. If you or the individuals wishing to cryopreserve the deceased person do not
have FULL LEGAL AUTHORITY over the body of the deceased, CI cannot accept
that person as a patient.
5. If legal authority will be DISPUTED by members of the deceased's family who
have equal or greater legal authority, or legal guardians of the deceased who
have greater legal authority, CI cannot accept that person as a patient.
6. If the person wishing to cryopreserve the deceased cannot pay CI's Membership
fees and the $35,000 cryopreservation fee and IN FULL before sending the patient to CI,
CI cannot accept that person as a patient.
7. The Cryonics Institute cannot accept shipment of a cryonics patient until full payment
has been received. Even courier or wire transfer can take a full day on a business day.
8. The Cryonics Institute will not accept a post-mortem cryopreservation case from a non-Member
until CI receives a death certificate and until the prospective patient has spent at least
two weeks on dry ice from the time CI is contacted.
If the Patient is already dead at time of first contact with CI,
it will be impossible to do the best kind of cryopreservation, and the chance
of revival will be worse than usual in some unknown degree. The family will
need to have time to make an informed decision. We therefore suggest that they
get the patient packed in water ice (0ºC) as quickly as possible (especially
the head), by hospital or funeral personnel. It will not be possible to perfuse
a post-mortem cryonics patient with anti-freeze or vitrification solutions.
As soon as possible wrap the head of the patient in a towel and pack the
patient in dry ice (-79ºC). With the cooperation of a funeral director
a patient can be stored on dry ice for many months (if necessary) with
little further deterioration of the body. CI requires at least TWO WEEKS of dry
ice storage with a funeral director to provide time for the family members to
come to an agreement, make their decision under less emotionally stressful
conditions and arrange for financing if a decision is made to proceed. It is
important that a decision not be made under emotional stress that family members
will regret later. Once contracts are signed and payment is made, the Cryonics
Institute cannot return payment or the remains of the patient.
To confirm that the cryopreservation is being done with full legal
authority, the Cryonics Institute requires a notarized letter from
all of those with the greatest legal authority
for the patient (eg, ALL children of a deceased parent) agreeing to
the cryopreservation, and certifying that there are no relatives of equal or
greater legal authority who have not agreed. All relatives with
the greatest legal authority must sign the cryopreservation storage
agreement.
If cryopreservation of the patient is not possible or financially feasible,
then some families may decide that preservation of genetic material (DNA)
may offer a bit of consolation, with the eventual possibility of cloning
if and when technology and law permits. CI offers this service to members.
Please see our web site at http://www.cryonics.org/dna.html .
The Cryonics Institute requires that the person being cryopreserved
be an Option One Member of the Cryonics Institute. Option One Membership is
$1,250 for the first family member and $625 for each additional adult family
member (no charge for children under age 18).
The Cryonics Institute Membership application is on the CI
website (available at
http://www.cryonics.org/option1.html)
and it is possible to FAX the application to (586) 792-7062
and pay the membership fee(s) by phoning in your credit card number.
The telephone number of the Cryonics Institute is (586) 791-5961.
It is advisable that you discuss your plans with a CI Staff
Member at the earliest possible time. We can also be reached by
e-mail at: CIHQ@aol.com.
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