Friday, October 8, 2010

More Cryonics Forum Foolishness

In response to my pondering whether it is legal for Alcor to refer to the residents of the Dewars as "patients," some anonymous soul, on CF responded:

"The U.S. Constitution says:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; _or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press_"

Of course it is legal for Alcor to say whatever they like. If you don't like it, it is also legal for you to disagree, using your own printing press, as you are doing.
"
http://www.network54.com/Forum/291677/message/1286384136/Is+it+legal+to+say+that-

First Amendment protection does not allow individuals, or entitites, to "say whatever they like," and if "Fundie" wants proof of that, he should consult with Charles Platt, or maybe with Mr. Platt's attorney, who specializes in law related to First Amendment protection.

In addition to the obvious restriction of laws related to libel and slander, there are also laws that prohibit people from impersonating physicians and other medical professionals. In calling their clients "patients," I believe organizations such as Alcor and Suspended Animation are implying the existence of qualified medical personnel. In addition to that, they often refer to their personnel as "surgeons," or other medical professionals, when the people they are referring to often have absolutely no medical training, and are not physicians, much less surgeons. This seems to be a fraudulent public representation of their personnel, and I think it should be against the law...if it's not, already.

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