| Lisa Mcpherson |
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| 1959 births | |
| 1995 deaths | |
| deaths from pulmonary embolism | |
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Lisa McPherson (born '''Lisa Skonetski''', February 10 1959 – December 5 1995 ) was a Scientologist who died while in the care of the Church Of Scientology (CoS). The death provoked controversy about the nature of Scientology Beliefs And Practices , particularly the Introspection Rundown . Since her death there have been regular Pickets outside Scientology offices on or around the anniversary of her death. A civil suit brought by her family against the Church was settled on May 28 , 2004 . BACKGROUND McPherson's last address was listed by the police as 210 S. Ft. Harrison in Clearwater, Florida , which is the Fort Harrison Hotel , a CoS property. McPherson had been a Scientologist from the age of 18 to her death at age 36, and worked for AMC Publishing . 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, some Scientologists arrived and stated that McPherson did not believe in psychiatry, and she checked out after a short evaluation and left with the Scientologists. She went with them to the to her death on December 5th show otherwise. McPherson was put on the Introspection Rundown that the CoS uses to handle those who have had a psychotic break. Some logs are missing, and Jesse Prince , a high-ranking ex-Scientologist, wrote an Affidavit in which he claims that the CoS has in the past destroyed documents that might get the organization in trouble. Brian Anderson, the head of the FSO, admitted to have destroyed some of the logs and replaced them with a "summary" [http://lisatrust.bogie.nl/legal/lisa-criminal/cpd-cd/3159.htm . On December 5 , 1995 , she was dead on arrival at a hospital 45 minutes north of Clearwater. According to the coroner's report, she was underweight and severely dehydrated. She also had several bruises and bedsores, as well as literally hundreds of insect bites on her body, which according to some forensic experts was a result of being left in a room with a large cockroach population. [http://www.shipbrook.com/jeff/CoS/autopsy.html [http://whyaretheydead.net/lisa_mcpherson/autopsy/autopsy_03/][http://whyaretheydead.net/lisa_mcpherson/legal/bugs/index.html]. A group of Scientology critics headed by Bob Minton named the short-lived Lisa McPherson Trust after her. CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CASES OVER MCPHERSON'S DEATH The family of Lisa McPherson sued the CoS and individuals involved for wrongful death, while the CoS claimed it did nothing wrong toward McPherson. On November 13 , 1998 , The Church of Scientology was indicted on 2 felony charges in McPherson's death. On December 6 , 1999 , prosecutor Bernie McCabe presented a response to Scientology's attempt to get the case dismissed {Link without Title} . On June 12 , 2000 the criminal charges were dropped against the CoS because, according to the prosecutor, medical examiner Joan Wood could not be counted on to confidently testify, even though the criminal charges were abuse of a disabled person and practicing medicine without a license. 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 CoS caretakers without having ever seen her. The CoS conducted a survey in the Clearwater area that shows 4 out of 5 residents have a negative opinion of Scientology. They tried to use this as a reason for a change of venue, then withdrew the request. CoS web sites nevertheless claim that Scientology and Clearwater have good relations {Link without Title} . The civil suit was settled on May 28 , 2004 . The terms of the settlement were confidential. The CoS now makes members sign a waiver specifically against suing the CoS over the Introspection Rundown {Link without Title} . EXTERNAL LINKS AND REFERENCES
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