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Scientists are working on a technology to temporarily suspend life. Certain human trials are underway. Would you consider participating?

While you may need to read the article to fully understand, I'd say it's somewhat comparable to cryogenic freezing, but shorter term and without the cold (and of course, it's not fictional). I don't know how far along the trials are, but I think they might be doing safety tests for now rather than actually putting people out. Nevertheless, what would it take for you to participate?

Full article here: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/09/cheating.death.suspended.animation/index.html
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twinpairs
twinpairs
Marked as Best! October 15, 2009 09:49 PM
I would have to have a fatal disease. One where I wasn't expected to live long. What could be learned from these experiments could far outweigh my loss of life should things go wrong. In this case I would do it for free. It wouldn't take anything for me to participate. If, however, I was healthy or only had a short term illness, they could not pay me enough to participate. Life is too short as it is.

I can just imagine the scientist saying:
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strabismus
strabismus
October 15, 2009 08:53 PM
I'd rather see if it works first. I wouldn't want to die in an experiment. The idea is fascinating but I don't know how much we know about what is involved in the process. If it works then that might be a milestone for mankind. But again we'll have to wait and see.
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michelleld...
michelleld...
October 15, 2009 11:11 PM
I'm sort of with Twinpairs... if I were terminal with something like cancer that was painful and was close to death, I might consider doing something like this to help others, potentially, in the future. If I was healthy or just had chronic issues (like I do now)... no way on earth or in hell. Nope.

I've been sick for awhile now, and there were two times in the past two years that I probably 'should' have died and didn't. It's made me appreciate life, and what I have, and really cement the fact that--if I have to die, I'm okay with death, it doesn't scare me--but I don't WANT to die right now.

I'm not taking any chances!

I'm guessing they'll likely experiment on animals first... (pout)
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bestpay
bestpay
October 16, 2009 07:38 AM
I can't see any circumstance in which i'd want my life to be suspended.

Surely the order of things is:
> You are born
> You live your life
> You die

The challenge is to enjoy the life you live.

For some people I can see this as a possible option. Imagine the 22 year old terminal cancer patient who thinks they may cure my cancer in the future and then I can have a fuller life.

I can appreciate that point of view but would you really want to be unsuspended when there is a cure, say 125 years later? You wouldn't know anybody (unless they had been suspended too), surely life is for living and is about people?
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psionandy
psionandy
October 16, 2009 09:39 PM
Actually I can see the appeal of it. If you ever got to that stage where you're bored of life an don't have the will to carry on.. then putting yourself on ice for 50 years or so would be great. You can sleep away your problems and wake up to a new and exciting world.

The only worry is that you are assuming that people are going to wake you up at that time.... otherwise you might as well be dead... which is probably no great loss as that would have been your alternative.
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