Johnson’s trying to sell a book. Alcor has sued him twice and won twice, and I believe his latest book violates a court injunction.
The part about the tuna can and wrench was indeed the only concerning thing, and it would be nice to see an explicit denial from Alcor on this point. But my own reaction can be best summed up as “pics or it didn’t happen”. Johnson has credibility zero, and the only reason I’m assigning non-zero probability, at this point, is because Alcor didn’t explicitly focus in on the wrench and deny the event.
EDIT: Good, they just did deny it explicitly. “In his book and during the Nightline segment, Mr. Johnson claimed he witnessed Alcor staff striking Ted William’s head with a wrench. Mr. Johnson, who was an executive with authority over the procedure in question, also claimed he said nothing about the purported incident when it allegedly occurred nor did he bring it to the attention of any other staff or board member. In fact, multiple individuals verified as documented witnesses to patient transfer procedures state without hesitation that Mr. Johnson’s claims are pure fabrication. Alcor’s internal investigation did not reveal any reports or recollections of any Alcor patient ever being struck by a wrench or any other object, accidentally or otherwise… Johnson’s statements about tissue debris, tuna, and cats are fictionalized accounts crafted for maximum tabloid shock value, as is nearly the entirety of his book. Alcor denies exposing patients to any devices or equipment that are not appropriate for their function, clean, and sterile as required.” Presumably they were finishing up the internal investigation before issuing the denial.
Johnson’s trying to sell a book. Alcor has sued him twice and won twice, and I believe his latest book violates a court injunction.
The part about the tuna can and wrench was indeed the only concerning thing, and it would be nice to see an explicit denial from Alcor on this point. But my own reaction can be best summed up as “pics or it didn’t happen”. Johnson has credibility zero, and the only reason I’m assigning non-zero probability, at this point, is because Alcor didn’t explicitly focus in on the wrench and deny the event.
EDIT: Good, they just did deny it explicitly. “In his book and during the Nightline segment, Mr. Johnson claimed he witnessed Alcor staff striking Ted William’s head with a wrench. Mr. Johnson, who was an executive with authority over the procedure in question, also claimed he said nothing about the purported incident when it allegedly occurred nor did he bring it to the attention of any other staff or board member. In fact, multiple individuals verified as documented witnesses to patient transfer procedures state without hesitation that Mr. Johnson’s claims are pure fabrication. Alcor’s internal investigation did not reveal any reports or recollections of any Alcor patient ever being struck by a wrench or any other object, accidentally or otherwise… Johnson’s statements about tissue debris, tuna, and cats are fictionalized accounts crafted for maximum tabloid shock value, as is nearly the entirety of his book. Alcor denies exposing patients to any devices or equipment that are not appropriate for their function, clean, and sterile as required.” Presumably they were finishing up the internal investigation before issuing the denial.