CRYONICS

Source: NDTV

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Context

• Australian Cryonics firm freezes first client in hopes of bringing him back to life in future.

Details

• Cryonics is the practice of preserving individuals at extremely low temperatures with the hope that future medical advancements can restore them to life and health.
• It involves cooling legally dead bodies to liquid nitrogen temperatures to halt physical decay.

Key Concepts and Principles

• Legal Death: Cryonics can only be initiated after a person is declared legally dead, meaning their heart has stopped beating and there is no neurological activity.
• Cryopreservation Process:
• Stabilization:Begins immediately after legal death to maintain tissue viability.
• Cooling:The body is gradually cooled to just above freezing to prevent ice formation.
• Cryoprotectant Perfusion:Blood is replaced with cryoprotectants to prevent ice crystal formation.
• Vitrification:The body is cooled to -196°C in liquid nitrogen, turning biological tissues into a glass-like state without forming ice crystals.

Technical Aspects of Cryonics

• Cryoprotectants: Chemicals like glycerol and ethylene glycol used to protect biological tissues from ice damage during cooling.
• Vitrification: A process that cools the body so quickly that ice crystals do not form, avoiding cell and tissue damage.
• Cooling Rates: Controlled cooling rates are crucial to avoid thermal stress and damage.
• Storage: Long-term storage in liquid nitrogen at -196°C in specially designed cryostats.

Ethical Considerations

• Consent: Individuals must provide informed consent prior to death for cryonic preservation.
• Ethical Debates: Concerns about identity and continuity, the potential for future resuscitation, and resource allocation.

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.  While Cryonics offers the hope of future revival for those preserved, significant scientific, legal, and ethical hurdles must be overcome. Examine. (250 Words)