rockin'robin
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COLORADO SPRINGS - A dispute over a woman's remains is taking center stage in an El Paso County courtroom.
Mary Robbins signed on with a Phoenix-based Cryonics Company, Alcor, in an effort to preserve her brain and genetic information. Family members say, days before her death, she changed her mind.
Alcor is a non-profit organization claiming to have the ability to preserve people's bodies and brains, so when technology is available the person can be cured of their disease or get a new body. Robbins' daughter, Darlene says she's fighting to keep her deceased 71 year old mother's body intact.
In 2006, Mary Robbins signed an Anatomical Directive, a document similar to a will, stating Alcor would be able to harvest her head after she died. Mary put $50,000 in an annuity, naming Alcor the beneficiary.
Darlene says, "They would just go and decapitate her, they would cut off her head and we could have the rest of the body." An attorney for Alcor, Eric Bentley, says the reason for the decapitation is because that's the best way to preserve the brain by Alcor's standards.
"Alcor is not a cult and it's not a fly by night operation it's a science based medical organization," said Bentley.
Darlene says before her mother died, she tried to get into hospice care, but they said they wouldn't be able to do the necessary procedures Alcor required to preserve her head and ultimately her brain.
Bentley said, by taking Mary's head to preserve her brain, they are carrying out her wishes. "This case is about each of us having the right to decide what will happen to us after we die."
Darlene said, "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."
Bentley said there was no attempt to break the contract, which he says would involve a written notice.
Alcor has been allowed to preserve Mary Robbins' head with dry ice. There will be a hearing on the case next Friday.
Dispute Over Woman's Remains - KRDO.com Colorado Springs and Pueblo News, Weather and Sports
Mary Robbins signed on with a Phoenix-based Cryonics Company, Alcor, in an effort to preserve her brain and genetic information. Family members say, days before her death, she changed her mind.
Alcor is a non-profit organization claiming to have the ability to preserve people's bodies and brains, so when technology is available the person can be cured of their disease or get a new body. Robbins' daughter, Darlene says she's fighting to keep her deceased 71 year old mother's body intact.
In 2006, Mary Robbins signed an Anatomical Directive, a document similar to a will, stating Alcor would be able to harvest her head after she died. Mary put $50,000 in an annuity, naming Alcor the beneficiary.
Darlene says, "They would just go and decapitate her, they would cut off her head and we could have the rest of the body." An attorney for Alcor, Eric Bentley, says the reason for the decapitation is because that's the best way to preserve the brain by Alcor's standards.
"Alcor is not a cult and it's not a fly by night operation it's a science based medical organization," said Bentley.
Darlene says before her mother died, she tried to get into hospice care, but they said they wouldn't be able to do the necessary procedures Alcor required to preserve her head and ultimately her brain.
Bentley said, by taking Mary's head to preserve her brain, they are carrying out her wishes. "This case is about each of us having the right to decide what will happen to us after we die."
Darlene said, "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."
Bentley said there was no attempt to break the contract, which he says would involve a written notice.
Alcor has been allowed to preserve Mary Robbins' head with dry ice. There will be a hearing on the case next Friday.
Dispute Over Woman's Remains - KRDO.com Colorado Springs and Pueblo News, Weather and Sports
