Case Review and Discussion on Cryonic Preservation

Abstract

Cryonics is infrequently encountered in hospice and palliative medicine literature. It is the practice of preserving the body and brain of a person who died with the aim for them to be revived in the future. As of 2022, it is estimated that around 500 people have been cryonically preserved globally. We report a case of a 78-year-old male who died from metastatic recurrence of his renal cell carcinoma and had made prior arrangements to pursue cryonic preservation with an out-of-state company. We intend to highlight logistical, ethical, legal, and psychological considerations unique to our patient. Topics discussed include: ethical objections of “First Do No Harm” seemingly at odds with the patient’s wishes, legal considerations of discrepancies between advanced directives and contract agreements, and a belief that death is not finite for their loved one may provide some comfort to families.

Keywords

bioethics bereavement hospital-specific palliative care issues technology use in hospice/palliative care

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