The cryopreservation after death, once relegated to the realm of science fiction, is now reality in Europe. The German company Tomorrow Biostasisfounded in 2019 by the doctor Emil Kendziorranow offers the possibility of preserving bodies in a cryogenic storage located in Switzerland, in the hope that medicine can one day bring patients back to life.
This process begins shortly before the patient's death. A specialized team intervenes to cool the bodyadminister oxygen e cryoprotective solutions to prevent the formation of ice crystals that would damage cells.
Subsequently, the body is transported to the Rafz depot, the location chosen for his geological stability and low crime, where it is further cooled and immersed in liquid nitrogen at -196 °C.
Cryopreservation after death: the future of medicine?
The Rafz structure, a repurposed bunker, can host up to 40 patients and offers the possibility of preserving the entire body or just the brain. The company also offers a “standby” service, with ambulances ready to respond at any time to begin the process as soon as the patient is declared legally dead.
This technique is raising many ethical and scientific questions. We don't know if it will ever be possible to bring a cryopreserved body back to life, nor what the consequences might be.
However, for some, cryopreservation represents a hope for the future, an opportunity challenge death and to live in an era where incurable diseases will be just a memory.
The cost is high, and it starts from 75.000 euro for the sole preservation of the brain and it arrives up to 200,000 euros for the entire body, to which the monthly fee must be added. Despite this, interest in this practice is growing, with the waiting list standing at approx 400 people. The cryopreservation after death it remains a controversial topic, but there is no denying that it represents a fascinating frontier of science and medicine.
