Lisa McPherson
www.lisamcpherson.org
Born	February 10, 1959 United States
Died	December 5, 1995 Clearwater, Florida, United States

v • d • e This article forms part of a series on Scientology

Dianetics Engram · Dianetics: MSMH · Clear Doctrine Thetan · Supernatural abilities Space opera · Xenu · Human evolution Past lives · Medical claims · Altered texts Practices Holidays · Weddings · Silent birth Study Tech · Auditing · Disconnection Rundowns · Comm Evs · E-meter · Assists Concepts MEST · ARC · Tone scale · Reactive mind People L. Ron Hubbard · Mary Sue Hubbard Heber Jentzsch · David Miscavige Tom Cruise · John Travolta Public groups Personality Tests · Volunteer Ministers Celebrities · Human Rights · ABLE · CBAA WISE · Narconon · Downtown Medical Criminon · The Way to Happiness Organization The Church · Sea Org · RPF Celebrity Centre · Trementina Base Church of Spiritual Technology Office of Special Affairs · Gold Base · Int'l Association of Scientologists Religious Technology Center Controversy Suppressive Person · Fair Game Operations Snow White & Freakout The Internet · Psychiatry Legal cases · Patter drill The Fishman Affidavit · Operation Clambake South Park · Scientology as a business Lisa McPherson · Lawrence Wollersheim Keith Henson · Elli Perkins · Free Zone

Lisa McPherson (born Lisa Skonetski, February 10, 1959–December 5, 1995) was a Scientologist who died of a pulmonary embolism while under the care of the Flag Service Organization (FSO), a branch of the Church of Scientology.^[1] Following her death the Church of Scientology was indicted on two felony charges "abuse and/or neglect of a disabled adult and practicing medicine without a license",^[2] putting under trial the nature of Scientology beliefs and practices.^[3] The heated controversy included regular pickets outside Scientology offices on or around the anniversary of the death Lisa McPherson until the year 2000.^[4] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Clearwater is a city located in central Pinellas County, Florida, USA, nearly due west of Tampa. ... Scientology is a system of beliefs and practices created by American pulp fiction[1][2] and science fiction [3] author L. Ron Hubbard in 1952 as a self-help philosophy. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1536x1152, 199 KB) A blue e-meter, a ritual device used by the Church of Scientology. ... This article is about the theory and practice termed Dianetics. ... In Dianetics and Scientology, an engram is defined as an unconscious, painful memory. ... In Dianetics and Scientology, Clear is defined as a state in which a person is free of unwanted influences of past memories, unwanted emotions, and mental and physical pain not existing in present time. ... This article examines the beliefs and practices of Scientology as taught by the Church of Scientology. ... In Scientology, the concept of thetan is similar to the concept of spirit or soul found in other belief systems. ... In Church of Scientology doctrine, the subjects of supernatural or superhuman powers and abilities are ones that recur often. ... In Scientology, space opera is a coined usage of the pre-existing term related to science fiction and was used by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard to describe extraterrestrial civilizations and alien interventions in past lives. ... Doctrine Practices Concepts People Public groups Organization Controversy In Scientology doctrine, Xenu (also Xemu), pronounced //, was the alien dictator of the Galactic Confederacy who, 75 million years ago, brought billions of aliens to Earth in DC-8-like spacecraft, stacked them around volcanoes and blew them up with hydrogen bombs. ... Reincarnation, literally to be made flesh again, is a doctrine or mystical belief that some essential part of a living being (in some variations only human beings) survives death to be reborn in a new body. ... In Church of Scientology doctrine, there have been a number of controversial medical claims made, usually centered around their auditing process, which uses a device called an E-meter to analyze and treat a persons so-called Reactive mind and Body Thetans. These claims range from the 1950 publication... In the Church of Scientology, It has long been considered essential that the word of founder L. Ron Hubbard is incontrovertible, and that his works, or Tech, must be preserved unaltered. ... This article examines the beliefs and practices of Scientology as taught by the Church of Scientology. ... There are many holidays, commemorations and observances in the Church of Scientology, including but not limited to: January 25: Criminon Day This commemorates the 1970 founding of Criminon, a program which seeks to rehabilitate prisoners by disseminating free copies of Scientology-related materials such as The Way to Happiness. ... Scientology weddings, as conducted within the Church of Scientology, are described in their book The Background, Ministry, Ceremonies & Sermons of the Scientology Religion. ... Silent birth, sometimes known as quiet birth, is a birthing procedure advised by L. Ron Hubbard and advocated by Scientologists in which everyone attending the birth should refrain from spoken words as much as possible and where ... chatty doctors and nurses, shouts to PUSH, PUSH and loud or laughing remarks... Study tech, or study technology, is a method of study, devised and spelled out by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology. ... This article is in need of attention. ... Disconnection is a practice in Scientology, in which a Scientologist severs all ties between themselves and friends, colleagues, or family members who criticize Scientology practices. ... In Scientology, a rundown is a procedure set out as a series of steps to produce a particular end result, or phenomena. ... The Scientology Justice system is a means for a Scientology organization to take action against a member whose conduct or actions are viewed as highly desctructive or offensive by an executive within the organization. ... An E-Meter is a battery-powered electronic device manufactured by the Church of Scientologys Gold Base. ... In Scientology, the Assist is described as a process which is done to alleviate a present time discomfort. [1] Despite the use of assists to treat pain and injuries, the Scientology Handbook (1994 edition) states: An assist in no way intrudes upon the role of medicine. ... In the Scientology religion, MEST is an acronym for Matter, Energy, Space and Time, considered by Scientologists to be the four component parts of the physical universe. ... ARC is a fundamental concept in Scientology methodology, and is a term particular to Scientology coined by founder L. Ron Hubbard. ... In Scientology, the tone scale or emotional tone scale is a characterization of human behavior and bodily appearance. ... In Dianetics and Scientology, the reactive mind is a concept created by L. Ron Hubbard, referring to a hypothetical portion of the human mind which Hubbard blamed for most mental and physical ailments. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the lead section of this article may need to be expanded. ... Mary Sue Hubbard (born Mary Sue Whipp) (17 June 1931–25 November 2002 [1]) was the third wife of science fiction writer and Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and often regarded as the first lady of Scientology. ... Heber Carl Jentzsch (born 1935 to Carl Jentzsch and his third wife Pauline), has served as president of the Church of Scientology International since 1982. ... David Miscavige (April 30, 1960 - ) is Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center (RTC), a corporation that controls the trademarked names and symbols of Dianetics and Scientology, and controls the copyrighted teachings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. ... Tom Cruise (born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV on July 3, 1962) is an Academy Award-nominated, Golden Globe Award-winning American actor and film producer. ... John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor, singer, entertainer and aviator. ... The Oxford Capacity Analysis (OCA), also known as the American Personality Analysis, is a personality test that is given for free by the Church of Scientology. ... The Volunteer Minister program is a worldwide effort founded by the Church of Scientology International. ... Recruitment and endorsements by Scientologist celebrities have always been very important to the Church of Scientology. ... The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR; also sometimes known as the Citizens Committee on Human Rights) is an advocacy group established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and Thomas Szasz. ... The Association for Better Living and Education (A.B.L.E.) is a secular branch of the Church of Scientology. ... Founded in 1983, the Concerned Businessmens Association of America (CBAA) is an element of the Scientology movement directed at promoting moral education and enhanced well-being through the use of Hubbards The Way to Happiness booklet in their Set A Good Example (SAGE) program, which holds childrens... World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE) is an organization that educates and assists businesses in the use of Scientology management techniques. ... Narconon is not associated with Narcotics Anonymous, which is sometimes abbreviated Narcanon. Scientologys Narconon is an in-patient rehabilitation program for drug abusers in several dozen treatment centers worldwide, chiefly in the United States and western Europe. ... Downtown Medical is a controversial Scientology clinic on 139 Fulton Street in New York City, founded in 2003 with the purpose of treating people for toxins inhaled from the smoke of the 9/11 attacks. ... Criminon is a secular non proft 501 C3 working with government departments and inmates to reduce recidivism and restore self respect to the inmate. ... The Way to Happiness Foundation International is a Scientology-related non-profit corporation founded in 1984. ... This is a list of Scientology organizations operated by the Church of Scientology (CoS), including Church offices, missions, Celebrity Centres and publicized Scientology and Dianetics groups. ... The Church of Scientology is an international network devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. ... Doctrine Practices Concepts People Public groups Organization Controversy The Sea Organization or Sea Org is an association of Scientologists established in 1968 by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. ... The Rehabilitation Project Force, or RPF, is a system of work camps[1] set up by the Church of Scientology Sea Organization, intended to rehabilitate members who have not lived up to the Church expectations or have violated certain policies. ... Celebrity Centres are Church of Scientology centers that are open to the public but serve mostly artists and celebrities and other professionals, leaders and promising new-comers in the fields of the arts, sports, management and government, and for those are the people who are sculpting the present into the... The Church of Scientology (CST) maintains a large base on the outskirts of Trementina, New Mexico. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The Office of Special Affairs (OSA) is a department of the Church of Scientology responsible for directing legal affairs, publicizing the Churchs social betterment works, and oversee[ing its] social reform programs. Observers outside the Church have characterized the department as an intelligence agency, comparing it variously to the... The Gold Base is a 500 acre parcel and the headquarters of Golden Era Productions, the media division of the Church of Scientology, located at 19625 Highway 79, Gilman Hot Springs, California 92583, near Hemet. ... The International Association of Scientologists (IAS) was formed in October 1984 by a group of selected Scientologists, who assembled at Saint Hill Manor in East Grinstead, Sussex, England. ... The Religious Technology Center (RTC) is a non-profit corporation established in 1982 by the Church of Scientology to control and oversee the uses of all of the trademarks, symbols and texts of Scientology and Dianetics, including the copyrighted works of the religions founder, L. Ron Hubbard. ... This article examines controversial issues involving Scientology and its affiliated organizations. ... In Scientology, a formally condemned and shunned heretic or wrongdoer is labelled a Suppressive Person, often abbreviated SP. L. Ron Hubbard coined the term to refer to enemies of the Church of Scientology, whose suppressive acts are said to impede the progress of Scientology. ... Fair Game is a status assigned to those whom the Church of Scientology has officially declared to be Suppressive Persons or Suppressive Persons are those whose actions are deemed to suppress or damage Scientology or a Scientologist. ... Operation Snow-White was the name given internally by the Church of Scientology to a program which included the largest incident of private domestic espionage in the history of the United States. ... Operation PC Freakout was the name given by the Church of Scientology to a covert plan undertaken by the Church in 1976, with the goal of harassing Paulette Cooper, author of a book critical of Scientology titled The Scandal of Scientology. The plan came to light when the FBI seized... Scientology versus the Internet is a colloquial term for a long-running online dispute between the Church of Scientology and a number of the Churchs online critics. ... Scientology is publicly, and often vehemently, opposed to psychiatry and psychology and offers itself as an alternative to psychiatry, which Scientologists believe to be a barbaric and corrupt profession. ... The Church of Scientology has been involved in a number of court disputes throughout the world. ... Patter drills are a drilling method used in courses in the Church of Scientology which were added to many Church courses in mid-1995, by David Miscavige. ... The Fishman Affidavit is a set of court documents submitted by ex-Scientologist Steven Fishman in 1994 containing criticisms of the Church of Scientology and, controversially, substantial portions of the Operating Thetan course materials. ... Operation Clambake Operation Clambake (xenu. ... Trapped in the Closet is episode 912 (#137) of the Comedy Central series South Park, originally aired on November 16, 2005. ... Scientology pays members commissions on new recruits they bring in, so Scientology members routinely try to sell Scientology to others. ... Lawrence A. Wollersheim is an ex-Scientologist. ... Howard Keith Henson (b. ... Elli Perkins (1949–March 13, 2003) was a mother of two, professional glass artist, and Scientologist who lived in Western New York. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Scientology is a system of beliefs and practices created by American pulp fiction[1][2] and science fiction [3] author L. Ron Hubbard in 1952 as a self-help philosophy. ... The Church of Scientology is an international network devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. ... The Church of Scientology is an international network devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. ... For the record label, see Felony Records The term felony is a term used in common law systems for very serious crimes, whereas misdemeanors are considered to be less serious offenses. ... This article examines the beliefs and practices of Scientology as taught by the Church of Scientology. ... A man carries a sign at the September 24, 2005 anti-war protest, a demonstration in Washington, D.C. American Civil Rights March on Washington, leaders marching from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, August 28, 1963. ...

The charges against the Church of Scientology were dropped after the state's medical examiner changed the cause of death from "undetermined" to an "accident" on June 13, 2000.^[5] The Church of Scientology is an international network devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. ...

A civil suit brought by her family against the Church was settled on May 28, 2004.^[6] May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Background

On 1994, Lisa McPherson, a long-time Scientologist, moves from Dallas to Clearwater with her employer, AMC Publishing owned at the time by Bennetta Slaughter. The company is operated and staffed largely by Scientologists who want to be close to the Church of Scientology's spiritual headquarters in downtown.^[5] Doctrine Practices Concepts People Public groups Organization Controversy Bennetta Slaughter is a prominent member of the Church of Scientology and current head of several of its organizations, including Applied Scholastics (itself a subsidiary of Scientologys Association for Better Living and Education, Gung Ho Groups, Citizens for a Better Clearwater...

On November 18, 1995, McPherson was involved in a minor car accident. She was apparently not hurt, but she got out of her car and took all her clothes off and seemed mentally unstable. She was taken to a hospital where she was physically evaluated as being unharmed, but the hospital wanted her to be psychologically cared for. However with the assistance of some Scientologists McPherson refused psychiatric observation or admission at the hospital and she checked herself out after a short evaluation. November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Frank Quesada concluded:^[7]

McPherson was then taken to the Fort Harrison Hotel for "rest and relaxation" according to the Church of Scientology, but statements made in dispositions demonstrates that McPherson was intended to be put on the Introspection Rundown.^[8] Mark McGarry, an attorney with the Florida Office of the State Attorney, characterized Lisa's stay at the FSO as an "isolation watch":^[8] This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Introspection Rundown is a Church of Scientology procedure that is intended to handle a psychotic break or complete mental breakdown. ...

The church accommodated McPherson on a cabana and kept a "24 hours watch" over her. Detailed logs were kept on McPherson’s day to day care. These logs were handwritten in plain white paper. ^[9] Most of these logs were kept but the logs for the last three days were summarized from the originals and the originals shredded. Brian J. Anderson the then Commanding Officer of the Church's Office of Special Affairs(OSA) in Clearwater stated in his sworn statement:^[10] The Office of Special Affairs (OSA) is a department of the Church of Scientology responsible for directing legal affairs, publicizing the Churchs social betterment works, and oversee[ing its] social reform programs. Observers outside the Church have characterized the department as an intelligence agency, comparing it variously to the...

McPherson’s "care logs" narrates the last 17 days of her life: McPherson’s was incoherent and sometimes violent, her nails where cut so she wouldn’t scratch her self or the staff, she bruised her fists and feet hitting the wall. She had trouble sleeping and was been given natural supplements and the drug chloral hydrate to help her sleep. She looked sick and develop sores; "She looked ill like measles or chicken pox on her face." She wouldn’t eat solids; her diet consisted of protein shakes, vitamins and pieces of banana^[9] Chloral hydrate, also known as trichloroacetaldehyde monohydrate, 2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-ethanediol, and under the tradenames Aquachloral, Novo-Chlorhydrate, Somnos, Noctec, and Somnote, is a sedative and hypnotic drug as well as a chemical reagent and precursor. ...

On December 5, 1995, the Church staffers contacted David Minkoff, a Scientologist medical doctor who prescribed drugs twice (Valium and chloral hydrate) for McPherson without seeing her.^[11] They requested for him to prescribe an antibiotic to McPherson because she seemed to have an infection. Minkoff refused and stated that McPherson should be taken to a hospital and he needed to see her before prescribing anything.^[12] They objected, expressing fear that McPherson would be put under psychiatric care.^[11] When they arrived at Minkoff's hospital 45 minutes north of Clearwater, having passed four other hospitals on the way, McPherson was dead on arrival.^[13] December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Diazepam, brand names: Valium, Seduxen, in Europe Apozepam, is a 1,4-benzodiazepine derivative, which possesses anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, sedative and skeletal muscle relaxant properties. ... Chloral hydrate, also known as trichloroacetaldehyde monohydrate, 2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-ethanediol, and under the tradenames Aquachloral, Novo-Chlorhydrate, Somnos, Noctec, and Somnote, is a sedative and hypnotic drug as well as a chemical reagent and precursor. ...

Coroner's Report & Review

In the original report the state’s medical examiner Carol Wood stated that the autopsy showed McPherson had deteriorated slowly, going without fluids for five to 10 days. They also showed she had been unconscious for up to 48 hours before her death and probably had been bitten by cockroaches. Carol Wood concluded that Lisa McPherson died of a pulmonary embolism caused by bed rest and severe dehydration. Scientology responded by stating that Wood was lying and responded by suing Wood for defamation.^[14]

Scientology hired its own team of experts to oppose Wood’s findings, including the help of two nationally known pathologists; Michael M. Baden (A former chief medical examiner in New York City that has played roles in some of the country's most celebrated death cases including the autopsy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., actor John Belushi and former baseball manager Billy Martin; the re-autopsy civil rights leader Medgar Evers and led the 1979 congressional re-examination of evidence in the assassination of President Kennedy.) and Drs. Cyril H. Wecht (A lawyer and the county coroner in Pittsburgh, who worked on the 1979 Kennedy assassination commission and is a frequent commentator on major death cases.). Drs. Michael M. Baden and Cyril H. Wecht concluded that McPherson, 36, died suddenly and unpredictably of a blood clot in her left lung that originated from a knee bruise she suffered in a minor auto accident 17 days earlier. ^[15]

This scientific evidence was then sent to Carol Wood for review. ^[16] After the review Wood changed the cause of death from "undetermined" to an "accident". Wood traced McPherson's pulmonary embolism to her psychosis and a minor auto accident as major factors.^[17]

The Scientific evidence sent to Woods included:

• Literature that shows that dehydration does not cause blood clots.^[16]
• Research on a substance known as ketone, which people produce when they are dehydrated, starving or even fasting, tests of McPherson's bodily fluids showed no ketone.^[16]
• Findings from a body measurement expert hired by the church. The expert compared autopsy photos of McPherson with those taken in happier times, just before she became psychotic and entered the Fort Harrison. The expert concluded there was "no appreciable weight loss," which counters the prosecution's view that McPherson lost 20 to 40 pounds while in Scientology's care.^[16]
• A report by a Morton Plant Hospital doctor who saw McPherson just before she entered Scientology's Fort Harrison Hotel, McPherson already was thin with protruding cheek bones.^[15]
• A report by Robert D. Davis, the pathologist who conducted the autopsy for Wood's office, concluded McPherson's body was of average nutritional status.^[15]
• Medical literature and sworn testimony that it says proves the eye fluid samples were improperly handled by Wood's office, incompetently tested at an independent lab and ultimately contaminated.^[15]

Also was notable that Wood did not do McPherson's autopsy personally but assigned it to Robert Davis, an employee who later was asked to resign and has become a witness for the church. He disputed Wood's conclusions and testified that she did not speak to him about her findings before signing his autopsy after he had resigned.^[5]

Criminal and civil cases over McPherson's death

The family of Lisa McPherson sued the Church of Scientology and individuals involved for wrongful death on February 19, 1997, while the Church claimed it did nothing wrong toward McPherson. ^[18] February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On November 13, 1998, the Church was indicted on two felony charges in McPherson's death; abuse or neglect of a disabled adult, a second-degree felony, and unauthorized practice of medicine, a third-degree felony; the first criminal charges ever filed in the United States against the Church of Scientology.^[5] These charges were brought against the Church as a corporation, not against any individuals, and the maximum penalty, had the charges been pursued and the Church found guilty, would have been a $15,000 fine plus costs.^[19] On December 6, 1999, Florida State Attorney Bernie McCabe presented a response to Scientology's attempt to get the case dismissed.^[20] November 13 is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 48 days remaining. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... For the record label, see Felony Records The term felony is a term used in common law systems for very serious crimes, whereas misdemeanors are considered to be less serious offenses. ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

On Feb 23, 2000, Medical examiner Joan Wood changed the cause of death of Lisa McPherson to an "accident." "Gone from the new report is the original reference to the bed rest and dehydration. Wood still traces the death to a blood clot behind McPherson's knee. But she lists McPherson's psychosis and a minor auto accident as major factors." ^[17] February 23 is the 54th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On March 8, 2000, a group of more than 200 Scientologists moved to have the criminal case dismissed on the claim that it had "chilled the religious rights of every Scientologist" and that other Scientologists were now being treated with concern, suspicion or ridicule by non-Scientologists. A central point of the motion was that McPherson had undergone the Introspection Rundown, which the brief putting forth the motion called an "entirely religious" practice.^[21] March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in leap years). ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On April 4, 2000, Scientology moves to have the entire case dismissed. "The entire basis for the state's prosecution of this case has now collapsed," begins one of the many Scientology legal briefs arguing the case should be dismissed.^[22] April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On June 12, 2000, Blaming the medical examiner for damaging their case, prosecutors quietly end the inquiry into Lisa McPherson's death.^[5] Bernie McCabe, the state attorney of Pinellas and Pasco counties stated: June 12 is the 163rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (164th in leap years), with 202 days remaining. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

"Number one, the practice-of-medicine charge was never going to fly on its own, it needed to be there with something else. And the abuse case was predicated almost completely on the dehydration, leading to embolism, leading to death. If you can't establish that, there is nothing to support the abuse charge."^[23]

On June 22, 2002, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Frank Quesada dismissed the count alleging that McPherson was falsely imprisoned on the McPherson's civil suit. June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

"Based on the undisputed facts of this case, plaintiff has not made and cannot make a showing that Lisa McPherson was unlawfully restrained "against her will' by the defendants." "In fact, all of the evidence indicates the opposite. Lisa McPherson refused psychiatric observation or admission at the hospital; she expressly stated her desire to receive the religious care and assistance from her fellow congregants that she and they wanted her to have."^[7]

Scientologist OT 8 Dr. David I. Minkoff had his license suspended on August 3, 2001 for one year and was fined $10,000 for prescribing medicine to McPherson at the request of her FSO caretakers without having ever seen her.^[11] In Scientology, the state of Operating Thetan is a spiritual state above Clear. ... August 3 is the 215th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (216th in leap years), with 150 days remaining. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The civil suit was settled out-of-court on May 28, 2004, under terms undisclosed to the public.^[24] May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Church of Scientology now makes members sign a waiver specifically against suing the Church over the Introspection Rundown. ^[25]

During the civil suit against the Church of Scientology brought by McPherson's family members, an injunction was sought and obtained to keep the Scientology-critical film "The Profit" from being shown. The stated reason was that it might prejudice the jury pool against Scientology. Since spin off legal cases against Dr. David I. Minkoff followed, this delay is still outstanding as of March 6th, 2007. An upcoming hearing into the reopening of the matter is slated for March 27th, 2007. ^[26] The Profit is a 2001 film directed by Peter N. Alexander. ...

See Also

• Noah Lottick, young Scientologist committed suicide, featured in TIME's The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power
• Elli Perkins
• Philip Gale
• The Friend of Mankind - a short non-fiction film about L. Ron Hubbard and the Church of Scientology which references McPherson's death and the ensuing wrongful death suit.
• The Bridge (film) - fictional film about a young woman's death, member of Scientology

Noah Antrim Lottick (March 8, 1966 – May 11, 1990) was an American student of Russian studies and a Scientologist. ... The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power, Time Magazine, Richard Behar, 1991. ... Elli Perkins (1949–March 13, 2003) was a mother of two, professional glass artist, and Scientologist who lived in Western New York. ... Philip Chandler Gale (1978, Los Angeles, California – March 13, 1998, Cambridge, Massachusetts) was a pioneering internet software developer and computer prodigy, an avid musician, and a Scientologist for most of his early life. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the lead section of this article may need to be expanded. ... The Bridge is a 69-minute low-budget film, directed by 18-year-old filmmaker Brett Hanover. ...

References

Logo of the St. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... Logo of the St. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 4 is the 216th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (217th in leap years), with 149 days remaining. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... Logo of the St. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (69th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... April 8 is the 98th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (99th in leap years). ... Logo of the St. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... Logo of the St. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ...

Press coverage

• Scientology charged in member's death (Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times, 14 Nov 1998)
• Church member's death now called accident (Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times, 23 Feb 2000)
• Doctors paid by church give defense (Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times, 07 Mar 2000)
• Records outline Scientology case (Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times, 26 Mar 2000)
• Scientology to argue for dismissal of case (Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times, 4 April 2000)
• Scientology's defense impresses judge (Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times, 7 April 2000)
• State drops charges against Scientology (Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times, 13 Jun 2000)
• McPherson case expected to haunt medical examiner (Craig Pittman, St. Petersburg Times, 13 Jun 2000)
• Church scores round in death suit (Robert Farley, St. Petersburg Times, 22 Jun 2001)
• Church requests that trial be moved (Robert Farley, St. Petersburg Times, 23 May 2003)
• Scientologists settle death suit (Robert Farley, St. Petersburg Times, 29 May 2004)

External links

• Lisa McPherson Memorial Page: Killed by the Church of Scientology
• LISA McPHERSON.com (documentation of civil suit)
• McPherson Case: "Scientologist's death now ruled accidental". Press revue from the CESNUR. Associated Press and St. Petersburg Times (2000-02-23). Retrieved on 2006-10-07.
• Fort Harrison Hotel — Room 174: Death of scientologist Lisa McPherson (Why Are They Dead)
• LisaFiles.com The Clearwater Police Department Investigation into Lisa McPherson's Death
• Lawyer Solicits Distant Relative In Money-Grab Plot (Church of Scientology Freedom Magazine, February 1998)
• Lisaclause.org: The Lisa McPherson Clause

v • d • e Scientology
Dianetics	Engram · Dianetics: MSMH · Clear
Doctrine	Thetan · Supernatural abilities · Space opera · Xenu Human evolution · Past lives · Medical claims · Altered texts
Practices	Holidays · Weddings · Silent birth · Study Tech · Auditing · Dead File Disconnection · Rundowns · Comm Evs · E-meter · Assists · Scientology Finance
Concepts	MEST · ARC · Tone scale · Reactive mind
People	L. Ron Hubbard · Mary Sue Hubbard · Heber Jentzsch David Miscavige · Tom Cruise · John Travolta·
Public groups and recruitment	Personality Tests · Volunteer Ministers · Celebrities · Human Rights · ABLE CBAA · WISE · Narconon · Downtown Medical · Criminon · The Way to Happiness
Organization	The Church · Sea Org · RPF · Celebrity Centre · Trementina Base · Church of Spiritual Technology · Office of Special Affairs · Gold Base · Int'l Association of Scientologists · Religious Technology Center
Controversy	Suppressive Person · Fair Game · Operations Snow White & Freakout · The Internet · Psychiatry Legal cases · Patter drill · The Fishman Affidavit · Operation Clambake · Scientology as a business · Lisa McPherson · Lawrence Wollersheim · South Park · Keith Henson · Elli Perkins · Noah Lottick · Philip Gale · Free Zone
Bibliography · Filmography