Fight over Springs woman's head puts cryonics in a spotlight

Amid court battles and ethical questions, many people have warmed up to the idea of cryopreservation.

“If and when I die, of all the choices, only cryonics has even the slightest chance of preserving the body well enough so that new technologies in the future can bring me back to life,” said Richard Leis, of Arizona, who will have his body stored at Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale.

In 2006, Colorado Springs’ Mary Robbins gave Alcor the right to preserve her head. She also agreed to give the nonprofit a $50,000 annuity to cover the costs. See the story here.

Robbins died Feb. 9, and her family says she had changed her mind about the preservation — and the annuity.
Her daughter, Darlene Robbins, said her mother signed new paperwork rescinding the 2006 agreement. Alcor’s lawyer disputes that.

Meanwhile, Mary Robbins’ body is stored on dry ice at a Springs mortuary.

El Paso County Magistrate Barbara L. Hughes ruled Monday that Robbins’ last will and testament directs that her body be turned over to Alcor. The company and family have settled, and Alcor will keep Robbins' head and cremate the remains.

Alcor attracted national attention in 2002 when baseball legend Ted Williams’ head was preserved there— and again in 2009 for allegations that his head was mistreated.

Today, the bodies or heads of more than 80 people are stored at Alcor, and more than 850 people have signed up to be cryonically frozen when they die.

Alcor is one of two U.S. cryogenics facilities. Using nitrogen gas, liquid nitrogen and solutions that prevent cell damage, cryonics preserves bodies indefinitely.

Proponents say cryonics is the one chance people have to live again, but Arthur Caplan, a bioethics professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said those considering it should think about what it would be like to come back.

For example, a person revived in the future wouldn’t have any relationships or ties to that time.

“Who we are isn’t just defined by what’s in our heads; it’s also by our relationships,” Caplan said.

Another question, he said, is whether a person would maintain memories and personality.

A Virginia physician and scientist who spoke only on condition that his last name not be used is undeterred.

“I believe cryonics is something that could work, and if it does work, then it would save me from dying,” Rafal said.