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Church Of Scientology Charged In Fla. Woman's Death.


The state of Florida has filed criminal charges against the Church of Scientology Church of Scientology: see Scientology, Church of.  in connection with the 1995 death of a church member.

After a minor traffic accident in Clearwater, Fla., in November of 1995, Lisa McPherson Lisa McPherson (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.  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 according to
prep.
1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.

2. In keeping with: according to instructions.

3.
 The New York New York, state, United States
New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of
 Times, an autopsy found that McPherson died of a pulmonary embolism Pulmonary Embolism Definition

Pulmonary embolism is an obstruction of a blood vessel in the lungs, usually due to a blood clot, which blocks a coronary artery.
 caused by severe dehydration. The county medical examiner A public official charged with investigating all sudden, suspicious, unexplained, or unnatural deaths within the area of his or her appointed jurisdiction. A medical examiner differs from a Coroner in that a medical examiner is a physician.  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 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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Copyright 1999, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Publication:Church & State
Geographic Code:1U5FL
Date:Jan 1, 1999
Words:252
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