Lisa McPherson. Death, judgment, Scientology

Death of Lisa McPherson

Lisa McPherson was a member of the Scientology sect and died under strange circumstances. The death of Lisa McPherson prompted lengthy court proceedings, a series of postmortem examinations, and public backlash against the Church of Scientology.

Lisa McPherson became an Adept of the Church of Scientology at the age of 18. At the time of her death, she was 36 years old and spent half of her life in the bosom of Scientology.

On November 18, 1995, Lisa McPherson was involved in a minor car accident. She had minor injuries, mostly bruises and abrasions.

The paramedics gave her the help she needed, but a strange thing happened: Lisa McPherson began to undress in the middle of the street.

After that, the woman was taken to the hospital. At the hospital, she said that she had undressed in order to be examined by doctors. She refused psychiatric help and stated that she wanted to receive religious help from her church.

Lisa McPherson at Scientology Church

Lisa McPherson was taken by Scientologists to the Church of Scientology’s Fort Harrison Hotel and left under staff surveillance.

McPherson was observed by Scientologists although she had obvious mental problems.

Scientologists kept “care logs” where the woman’s condition was recorded. The magazine noted that Lisa McPherson’s speech was often incoherent, she pounded and kicked the walls, scratched her body with her nails. Lisa McPherson looked painful, church officials noted.

As a treatment, Scientologists gave Lisa natural supplements and the drug chloral hydrate for restful sleep, and protein shakes.

Soon Lisa McPherson began to refuse food and Scientologists had to force feed her.

On some days, Lisa McPherson was so weak that she did not get out of bed at all.

On December 5, 1995, Scientologists contacted the physician David Minkoff, who was also an adherent of the Scientology sect. He gave advice without examining her, prescribed Valium and hydrochloride.

At this time, the face and body of Lisa MacPherson covered with a rash and pimples like measles or chickenpox.

They asked the doctor to prescribe an antibiotic for the woman, but David Minkoff said she needed to be taken to the hospital.

However, Scientologists feared that in the hospital Lisa McPherson would be sent to a psychiatric ward.

Scientologists took Lisa McPherson to the hospital, but she died on the way. Attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful.

An autopsy of Lisa McPherson revealed that death was caused by pulmonary embolism caused by bed rest and severe dehydration.

The pathologist’s report noted that Lisa McPherson’s body had multiple bruises and bruises, an abrasion on the nose and insect bites.

Lisa McPherson was comatose for 24 to 48 hours and died without regaining consciousness.

Scientologists and Litigation

The Church of Scientology legal team is suing forensic scientist Joan Wood, arguing that they need the autopsy results as they are part of the Scientology defense in the upcoming trial.

Scientologists were accused of improper care, resulting in the death of the ward.

The Church of Scientology hired its own forensic scientists to dispute Joan Wood’s conclusion.

So, for example, in the opinion of experts hired by Scientologists, it was argued that Lisa McPherson’s thromboembolism was caused by a bruised knee as a result of a road accident.

As a result of the debate, Joan Wood had to change the conclusion on death from the wording “cause of death not established” to “death by accident”.

Pressure on the forensic scientist and pathologist who performed the autopsy made the case so confusing that Assistant Attorney General Douglas Crow recommended that the criminal case against Scientologists be dropped.

Outcomes and consequences

After a trial that lasted about 17 years, charges against Lisa McPherson’s death were dropped from the Church of Scientology.

  • Scientology physician David Minkoff was deprived of his license for 3 years and fined $ 10,000.
  • The Church of Scientology claimed $ 2,000,000 in damages, but received only $ 4,500 in compensation for lawyers.
  • In the course of the civil suit, Lisa McPherson’s relatives received compensation, the amount of which was not disclosed, and the civil suit was terminated due to the reconciliation of the parties.
  • Mat Pesch, the former treasury secretary of the Flag Service Organization (FSO), a branch of the Church of Scientology under whose tutelage Lisa McPherson was, said Scientologists spent more than $ 20,000,000 of the FSO reserve to settle the case, influence judges, forensic scientists, lawyers and witnesses.
  • In the rules of the Church of Scientology, a receipt has appeared from new adherents that they will not make any claims against the church if the adept has medical indications, including of a psychiatric nature, even if he refuses treatment and entrusts the Church of Scientology with taking care of himself.

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05.01.2020

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