Have you ever thought about what happens to the bodies when a cryogenic company goes bankrupt? If you have and still looking for the correct answer for it, then you must dig in straight to this article.
Why dead bodies are stored in cryogenic conditions?
Earlier in the 1960s, the dead bodies were frozen only for cosmetic reasons, however, now they are stored in a hope that they can reanimate in the future. In the early days, no preservatives were added on the bodies to protect the tissues from damage. It was merely used to freeze the bodies.
And if a body is revived back to life then all the money left of him would be given back to him to start his normal life again.
How did the cryogenic companies work in the past?
Cryogenic companies in early times relied on the family of the deceased to make regular payments to keep the body of their loved ones nicely frozen. It was mostly because of the lack and failure of the equipment and procedures, resulting in the thawing of the bodies. Also, all the bodies from the first batch of this experiment were later handed over back to their families to keep the body of their loved ones just as they please.
While in case of accidental thawing of the body, the successor of the deceased person was informed to take the body and dispose of the body. However, the case of intentional thawing of the body was mostly of the bankrupted companies which were later sued for keeping it hidden from the family members of the deceased.
First successful case
Patient zero, Dr. James Bedford, a former psychologist and was the first guy frozen with the methods to preserve him in the hope to reanimate him in the future. Chemicals and preservatives were used to stop the ice crystal formation on the body. He died in the year 1967 due to cancer. His body survived for the longest time and was eventually handed over to his son because the company where he was earlier stored got bankrupted. Later, after keeping his father frozen for many years, Bedford’s son handed him over to Alcor cryogenic facility.
How do modern cryogenic companies work?
The modern-day cryogenic companies learned from the mistakes of the companies from the past and ensured the deceased’s family to store the body for the long term. Some of the modern-day companies are non-profit organizations that either rely on the payment from their loved ones or on the donations.
The payments which these companies take from the families are the major source of steady cash for these companies.
The methods of freezing the body are far better than the early cryogenic companies. The cocktails used for freezing the body maintain the tissues and the neurons of the brain. However, these cocktails have a great toxic level which dehydrates and damages the cells. Thus, even if the body would be revived and the blood would be introduced in it, it would still be impossible to fully reanimate the tissue.
What is the cost of storing a body?
- It is about $28,000 to $200,000 depending upon which package and company is chosen by the family members of the deceased person.
- Beyond this money, the company also requires some annual fee before you die. Alcor takes $700 and Cryonics Institue takes $120 annually or you can make a one-time payment of $1250.
- Thus, it takes almost $150-$800 per year to maintain a body for years.
Winding up
In the end, when the cryogenic company goes bankrupt, then the dead bodies are returned to the family of the deceased. And then, the bodies are sent to their ultimate fate, i.e., the bodies are handed over to the mother earth.