She lost her head and her family wants it back!
By laglen
@laglen (19759)
United States
February 21, 2010 9:42pm CST
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado — A Colorado family and an Arizona nonprofit are fighting in court over who gets the head of a woman who died this month, along with a $50,000 annuity she left behind.
At issue is whether 71-year-old Mary Robbins' head and brain will be preserved by cryonics — extremely cold temperatures — in the expectation that future technology may be able to bring her back to life and restore her health.
Lawyers for both sides appeared in probate court Friday but the case hasn't been resolved.
Robbins, of Colorado Springs, died Feb. 9. Her family said she was suffering from cancer.
In 2006, she signed documents giving the Alcor Life Extension Foundation of Scottsdale, Arizona, the right to cryogenically preserve her head and brain. She also agreed to give the nonprofit foundation a $50,000 annuity to cover preservation costs.
Her daughter, Darlene Robbins, said her mother changed her mind in her last days because of the procedures that preservation would have required before she died, including tubes in her throat and nose, intravenous lines and medications.
Mary Robbins signed new paperwork that would give her family the annuity, the daughter said.
Darlene Robbins said she opposes a suggestion by Alcor to take her mother's head and that the family get custody of the body.
"I want to have closure. I want to be able to grieve for my mom in a normal way without fighting a legal battle give me back my mother," she said.
Eric Bentley, an attorney for Alcor, said Mary Robbins didn't sign a written notice rescinding the 2006 agreement. He said Alcor wants to honor the wishes she expressed in that document.
"Alcor is not a cult and it's not a fly-by-night operation. It's a science-based medical organization," Bentley said. Alcor's Web site said the foundation was formed in 1972.
Robbins' body is stored on dry ice at a Colorado Springs mortuary until custody is settled, but it's not clear when that might be.
"I've never tried a case where we're talking about the dismemberment of a body and fighting over pieces of a body," said Robert Scranton, an attorney for the family.
What do you think of this? I think if the daughter can produce the paper then the suit should be for her.
What do you think of Cryogenics? Would you do it?
I disagree with it. I believe that after I die I am going to a better place. I also believe that my body is just on loan and my soul will go to heaven. What is your opinion?
3 people like this
3 responses
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
22 Feb 10
I think that if the mother changed her mind, then the family should have custody of her body.
2 people like this
@zoey7879 (3092)
• Quincy, Illinois
22 Feb 10
I personally, don't agree with cryogenics, but to each their own. I think that it's kind of creepy, in some strange sense.
I believe that if her daughter can produce a written or video documentation of her mother's change of heart, that then she should get her mother's body ... parts back. I don't believe that the annuity as a whole should be returned to the family, because the services were already partially rendered, and if Ms. Robbins changed her mind at the last minute, it was up to Ms. Robbins and/or her power of attorney to notify the company.
1 person likes this
@sirnose (2436)
• United States
22 Feb 10
I think that cryogenics is a crock and that the daughter should get the money. I remember years ago I saw a documentary about cryogenics and the company had went belly up, all the bodies and body part which were stored there were abandon by the owners. No I would never do it I think that genetic engineering maybe the answer to longevity and a better quality of life.
1 person likes this
