Church Of Scientology Charged In Fla. Woman's Death.The state of Florida has filed criminal charges against the Church of Scientology in connection with the 1995 death of a church member. After a minor traffic accident in Clearwater, Fla., in November of 1995, Lisa McPherson McPherson, city (1990 pop. 12,422), seat of McPherson co., central Kans., in a farm area on the old Santa Fe Trail; inc. 1874. The city has an oil refinery and factories that make plastics, railroad equipment, and motor vehicles. The city is named for Gen. James B. McPherson, the highest ranking Union general to die in the Civil War. McPherson College is there. removed her clothes and walked down the street naked. She was taken to a local hospital, where doctors wanted to admit her for psychiatric care. But she refused treatment and left the hospital with a group of Scientologists to a church-owned facility, where she spent the 17 days prior to her death. (Scientologists are adamantly opposed to psychiatric care.) According to The New York Times, an autopsy found that McPherson died of a pulmonary embolism air embolism that due to air bubbles entering the veins from trauma, surgical procedures, or severe decompression sickness. cerebral embolism embolism of a cerebral artery. coronary embolism embolism of a coronary artery. caused by severe dehydration. The county medical examiner concluded that she had gone without fluids for at least five to 10 days before her death. Church officials argue that McPherson was well cared for at the facility but that she became violent and incoherent and stopped eating. They also said that when her condition worsened, she was taken to a hospital. They contend that the charges stem from a long-standing dispute between the Church of Scientology Church of Scientology: see Scientology, Church of. and local officials and police. Though no charges have been filed against any individual, the church's Flag Service Organization, its chief operating arm in Clearwater, was charged with abuse or neglect of a disabled adult and practicing medicine without a license. The maximum penalty for each charge is a $5,000 fine. On Nov. 30, the church pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges. |
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