SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA – March 1, 2010
Mary Robbins was a member of Alcor Life Extension Foundation since 2006. She signed numerous documents expressing her desire to have her remains cryopreserved by Alcor after legal death. Ms. Robbins never executed a document which revoked her wishes concerning the donation of her remains to Alcor for cryopreservation. The Colorado Springs Probate Court decided today that a “change in beneficiary form” related to an insurance annuity was not sufficient to revoke the long-standing desire of Ms. Robbins for cryopreservation. The court upheld the desire of Ms. Robbins to be cryopreserved.
The change in beneficiary form was placed in front of Ms. Robbins two days before her death. Her mental and physical well-being are questionable at the time she executed the document. For this and other reasons, Alcor challenged the claim by her family that she had revoked her cryonics arrangements based on this document.
Colorado counsel for Alcor, Eric Bentley, said, “We are very pleased that the written desires of Ms. Robbins will be fulfilled. This case has always been about the written intentions of Ms. Robbins.”
Ms. Robbins signed seven different documents expressing her wishes for cryopreservation, including four documents her personal attorney prepared. At a hearing on Friday, the estate attorney for Ms. Robbins, various family members, and a friend of Ms. Robbins all testified that Ms. Robbins had a keen interest and desire for cryopreservation.
Ms. Robbins remains were frozen in dry ice two days after her death, and are being held in a Colorado Springs mortuary at a temperature of -79 degrees Celsius pending final legal resolution of her wishes.
See copy of Colorado Probate Court Order in this case (PDF)
About the Alcor Life Extension Foundation
Alcor Life Extension Foundation is a not-for-profit research organization founded in 1972. Alcor is the world leader in cryonics, and cryonics technology. Cryonics is the science of using ultra-cold temperatures to cryopreserve humans. The intent is that advanced scientific procedures may one day be able to revive cryopreserved humans and restore them to good health. Alcor performed its first human cryopreservation in 1976, and has engaged in long-term care of cryopreserved members in its state-of-the-art facility since then.
Among the scientific achievements of Alcor is the use of advanced cryoprotectant formulas capable of vitrification. Vitrification enables cryopreservation to take place without the damage that occurs in freezing tissue. Alcor has published papers in scientific journals documenting the quality of tissue preservation possible with its procedures, and the effects of clinical death on the brain. Alcor also sponsors research in the field of nanomedicine, a technology that may someday be used to revive cryopreserved patients.
Alcor’s Board of Directors consists of successful and well-regarded scientists, physicians, attorneys and other professionals. Alcor also has a group of scientific advisors, who are leaders in the fields of medical research, nanotechnology, and computer science.
Alcor has more than 900 members and 90 cryopreserved patients. The public is welcome to attend regularly scheduled tours of the Alcor facility in Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information about Alcor and cryonics, visit www.alcor.org.
