Posted on 07/24/2006 7:51:41 PM PDT by Marius3188
The first-ever footage of a person Liquid nitrogen being cryonically frozen after death is to be shown on Channel Five.
The 60-minute film Death in the Deep Freeze will follow a woman who is terminally ill with cancer.
It will also show the 'shocking and compelling' invasive procedure used to freeze her, along with interviews while she is still alive.
There is no evidence that it works
The process, which has been performed on about 150 people, involves freezing the body in the hope that it can one day be brought back to life.
Soon after the person dies, water in the body is replaced with an antifreeze to stop cells deteriorating.
Once the water has been replaced, the body is cooled using dry ice until it reaches -130°C (-202°F) The final step is to put the body into a metal container and immerse it in a tank full of liquid nitrogen.
Independent production firm Zig Zag, which is also making the controversial documentary on Britain's first 'masturbate-a-thon' for Channel 4, spent months negotiating to secure access to the procedure.
Executive producer Jes Wilkins said: 'We're really very proud of what we have achieved with this programme. The human and emotional journey we captured and the ethical questions raised makes for one of our most fascinating productions to date.'
The Cryonics Institute in Michigan, where the film was made, has 70 bodies in liquid nitrogen. Its president Ben Best said he was happy for viewers to see the procedure.
'I hope this film opens people's eyes to the benefits of cryonics,' he added.
However, the Linacre Centre of Health Care Ethic, a Catholic science group, believes it is a waste of time.
Member Anthony McCarthy said: 'This is not a serious medical treatment.
I'm concerned people are spending vast amounts on a procedure where there is no evidence that it works.'
The programme is due to be shown at the end of the month.
Ghastly.
Hopefully her fate turns out to be better than Ted Williams.
How in the hell does anyone expect to re-animate a dead body? This is the worst of all rip offs.
Since no one has been brought back, what benefits might those be?
Two possible outcomes for this:
1. People in the future won't care about waking up our frozen dead, and will just bury them.
2. People in the future wondering how nuts we were. "We could have brought them back to life but you filled them with anti-freeze. They're dead!"
Would this be something you'd need to get pledges for????
"Zig-Zag"? They're smokin' sumthin! "Masterbate-a-thon", now there's something to proudly put on a resume'.
Yeah, the antifreeze really sounds like a deal-breaker to me.
It's just a guess, but I foresee these frozen dead people given more respect for potential life than frozen embryos.
"Hmm, here's your problem--you're full of antifreeze!"
Point well taken.
The Deceased and his HeirsA man died leaving a large estate and many sorrowful relations who claimed it. After some years, when all but one had had judgment given against them, that one was awarded the estate, which he asked his Attorney to have appraised.
“There is nothing to appraise,” said the Attorney, pocketing his last fee.
“Then,” said the Successful Claimant, “what good has all this litigation done me?”
“You have been a good client to me,” the Attorney replied, gathering up his books and papers, “but I must say you betray a surprising ignorance of the purpose of litigation.”
— Ambrose Bierce, Fantastic Fables.
A very disturbing short story called "The Thaw" by Tanith Lee springs to mind ... things didn't turn out as expected ...
Sounds like one of Niven's "Corpsesicles."
"Many are culled, few are frozen."
-- Clarence Birdseye
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