Swiss public attitudes to human cryopreservation

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Ethics
• Sociology of Science
• Thanatology

Background:

• Cryopreservation, or cryonics, offers experimental preservation at cryogenic temperatures post-legal death for potential future revival.
• Switzerland has the Schengen Area's first dedicated whole-body human cryopreservation facility.
• Public sentiment regarding cryopreservation in Switzerland remains largely unexamined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Swiss adult awareness, ethical views, and openness to human cryopreservation.
• To provide the first empirical data on public opinion regarding cryopreservation in Switzerland.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory survey was conducted among 249 Swiss adults.
• The survey assessed awareness, ethical viewpoints, and personal interest in cryopreservation.

Main Results:

• Broad support for individual autonomy was observed, with 86.7% endorsing the right to choose cryopreservation under high medical standards.
• A significant majority (83.5%) did not support legal restrictions on cryopreservation.
• While personal interest was not dominant, 20.1% reported active interest or intent to sign up for cryopreservation.
• Openness to cryopreservation was more strongly associated with values like life-extension preference and prior exposure than demographic factors.

Conclusions:

• Swiss public opinion on cryopreservation is largely permissive.
• There is considerable public engagement with the concept of cryopreservation in Switzerland.
• Findings suggest a public stance favoring individual choice and autonomy in cryopreservation decisions.