Freepers call to action re. Terri Schindler-Schiavo. Make a complaint against Judge Greer:

Various ^ | August 28, 2003

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Whoa...check out some familiar names/instances:

Florida Charges Scientology in Church Member's Death
http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/nytimes/lisa-11-98.htm?FACTNet

November 14, 1998
By DOUGLAS FRANTZ

---

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Florida prosecutors filed criminal charges Friday against the Church of Scientology in connection with the death of a church member while she was under the care of Scientologists three years ago. The church's Flag Service Organization, its chief operating arm in Clearwater, Fla., was charged with abuse or neglect of a disabled adult and with the unauthorized practice of medicine in the death of the church member, Lisa McPherson, 36. The felony charges were filed in Clearwater, which is the church's spiritual headquarters, by the State Attorney for Pasco and Pinellas Counties, Bernie McCabe.

Ms. McPherson, who had spent half her life as a member of the church, died on Dec. 5, 1995. She had spent the previous 17 days under 24-hour watch in a church-owned hotel in Clearwater after suffering an apparent nervous breakdown following a minor traffic accident. Church records said she had suffered dementia and had to be restrained at the hotel.

The Pinellas County medical examiner said Ms. McPherson had been deprived of water for 5 to 10 days before her death and ruled that she had died of a blood clot brought on by dehydration. The Clearwater police and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducted a two-year investigation, which led to the charges filed Friday.

Ms. McPherson's death has become a rallying point for critics of Scientology and was the subject of a long article in The New York Times last December. They contend that her death reflects the coercive nature of the church, which has been a lightning rod for criticism since it was founded 48 years ago by L. Ron Hubbard, the late science fiction writer.

Scientology has grown into a worldwide movement that boasts eight million members, although critics say the number is much smaller. The church was granted tax-exempt status in 1993 after a 25-year battle with the Internal Revenue Service.

Church officials and organizations have faced charges in foreign countries in recent years, but the charges in the McPherson case are believed to be the first criminal accusations against a Scientology entity in the United States since 11 of its leaders were imprisoned 20 years ago for breaking into Government offices.

The Clearwater charges are similar to those brought against nursing homes accused of providing inadequate treatment to elderly patients who die in their care. The abuse or neglect charge accuses the church of knowingly or negligently causing harm to Ms. McPherson. Church officials and lawyers have maintained that Ms. McPherson was cared for properly under Scientology's beliefs and that her death was unrelated to her stay at the church's Fort Harrison Hotel.

Laura L. Vaughan, a lawyer for the church, said the charges did not accuse the church or any of its members with intentionally harming Ms. McPherson. "There was no charge of manslaughter and no charge that the church caused her death," Ms. Vaughan said.

Kennan Dandar, a lawyer for the McPherson family in a civil lawsuit against the church, said the family was pleased by the criminal charges.

The family's wrongful-death suit against the church is scheduled to go to trial next summer.

Under Florida law, the maximum penalty is a $5,000 fine for each charge, but courts may impose additional penalties, including forfeiture of property. McCabe and Clearwater police officials declined to comment on the charges. But an affidavit by A. L. Strope, a special agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which was released with the charges, provided a chilling portrait of Ms. McPherson's final days.

Ms. McPherson worked as a sales representative at a Clearwater firm owned by other Scientologists. After the accident, in which she appeared to have been uninjured, she stripped off her clothes on the street and began to mumble. She was taken to a local hospital and a doctor there wanted to provide psychiatric treatment. But several church members went to the hospital and took Ms. McPherson to the church hotel. The Church of Scientology prohibits psychiatric treatment for its members. Over the next 17 days, according to Strope's affidavit, Ms. McPherson was hyperactive, delusional and hallucinating. He said she tried to harm herself and others and was repeatedly restrained and prevented from leaving her room.

After the first week, she routinely urinated and defecated on herself and rarely slept, Strope said. She had conversations with people who were not there, claimed to be people she was not, sang and danced around the room as if giving a performance, crawled around on the floor, stood on the toilet, got in the shower fully clothed, tried to walk out of the room in a state of undress and on at least one occasion drank her own urine.

Strope said Scientology staff members administered injections of magnesium chloride in an effort to get her to sleep and gave her numerous doses of vitamins, herbal sleep remedies and prescription drugs. One staff member who treated Ms. McPherson, Janice Johnson, had been a practicing anesthesiologist in Arizona before she ran into disciplinary trouble and let her medical license lapse, Strope said.

Several other people who cared for Ms. McPherson also had some medical training, he said.

On the evening of Dec. 5, 1995, Ms. McPherson's condition had deteriorated to the point where Dr. Johnson telephoned a Scientologist working as an emergency room physician at a hospital 45 minutes away.

The doctor, David I. Minkoff, told investigators that he suggested Ms. McPherson be taken to the nearest hospital if she was very ill.

Instead of going to Morton Plant Hospital, which was just a few blocks away, Ms. McPherson was driven 45 minutes to the hospital where Dr. Minkoff worked. She was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.

Dr. Minkoff said he was shocked by her horrific appearance. The medical examiner later estimated that she had lost as much as 40 pounds and been without water for up to 10 days, accusations disputed by church lawyers.

Strope said the delay in seeking emergency care deprived Ms. McPherson of her only opportunity for surviva

[agrace]

I have NO idea, that was the very first time I have ever listed to Radio FR. Sorry!

Anyone know?

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Ragtime Cowgirl mentioned on the Radio FR thread from last night that it might be out later today. It is a volunteer who transcribes the show.

The interview was with Terri's brother.

[agrace]

Kim, that is AWESOME!!! A protest sign is born!!! You should maybe send an email copy to the family or the reps who handle their mail. Priceless.

[agrace]

Wow, very interesting. Are you getting any impression that there still may be a significant scientology community in that immediate area?

[floriduh voter]

They moved into Clearwater in the seventies and are pushing into surrounding cities, including Tampa. A young woman was being treated by a doctor without a license from the their org. She had a medical emergency, he took her to a major hospital and she died. That was Lisa MacPherson. Her family tried to sue Scientology and Judge Greer was the Judge. (this is my recollection, not hard facts).

[floriduh voter]

Here's why Pearse got let go as GAL. He accused hubby of having ulterior motives. Ya think?

When the litigation ended, however, "he has a change of heart concerning further treatment," Pearse said. Pearse, noting that Schiavo would benefit financially if his wife died, recommended that the feeding tube remain.

Two years ago, Greer rejected that recommendation and ruled in Schiavo's favor. He said he found evidence Terri would not want to be kept alive artificially. Schiavo had the tube removed last year, but a second judge ordered it reinserted two days later.

Schiavo says the legal back-and-forth has been frustrating.

"We had a trial. We had a decision," he said in an interview this spring. "I was allowed to let my wife die. She was on her death bed. She was three days into it. I had her funeral arrangements made.

"Then to have it turned around." Michael Schiavo

"just damn" (sarcasm tag)

[TheSpottedOwl]

I found a good place for her and it's right down the street. The owner recently sold the business, and he's helping transition the change of ownership. The problem is that 2 months ago my mom was released from hospice coverage, and we dropped the ball finding her a new doctor. I spent Wednesday, the first day of school as usual, finding a doctor because my mom was almost out of meds. She enjoyed the car ride, and actually said, "pleased to meet you, when the doctor introduced himself". She's on heavy duty psychiatric meds because of her condition, but she just sits and smiles, and eats the meals that her Phillipina caretakers make for themselves, like eggrolls and whatever. She likes that better than the bland, balanced food that they prepare for the other ladies.

I'm just skimming the story, but it's the reason why I think Terri's quality of life and condition can improve with the proper therapy.

[floriduh voter]

J. Stoutamire was quite young and he died of cancer. He lived in a lovely restored home by the Belleview Biltmore Golf Course. His ex-wife taught at St. Pete College.

[syriacus]

How frustrating for poor, widdle, "wants-to-be-a-widower," Mikey Schiavo.

He sure likes making things difficult for himself.

Things really would be much simpler if he would just hand the guardianship of Terri over to her parents and walk away.

I wonder why he doesn't do that.

[windchime]

"I missed all the red check excitement."


I guess I did, too. What caused it?

[floriduh voter]

I think maybe it had something to do with jello. What was up with the red checks? Is there a url?

[TheSpottedOwl]

I need your help. Have any of you run across the name of the insurance company that paid out Michael's lawsuit money? I have an idea, and it involves the Jerger Ins co. They have bought out some ins co and I want to check them against the ones I have.

No I haven't, but what a good idea! It certainly is worth looking into.

[Ohioan from Florida]

Good work, syriacus! Me thinks you're onto something! Here is an excerpt from one of the links you provided in your post above this one:

"DRUG-FREE MARSHALS

Further capitalizing on the popularity of anti-drug movements, the Drug-Free Marshals uses children to enhance the community-friendly facade of the front group. The combination has effectively duped even knowledgeable public officials like former Mayor Rita Garvey, who unwittingly fell for a photo-op with the Marshals before she realized the Scientology connection.

Unsuspecting foot-race participants in Clearwater's annual "Say No To Drugs" Holiday Classic will find themselves being "sworn-in" as Drug-Free Marshals at the awards ceremony breakfast. How nice... show up for a race, and go home as an official member of a cult front group. And they've got your name and address, now, too. If only you had realized that the list of race sponsors included, among others, AMC Publishing (former employer of Lisa McPherson), Dr. David "D.O.A." Minkoff's Downtown Walk-In Clinic, and the Dianetics Running Team."

Perhaps this is how Greer, being a marathon runner, has gotten into connections with the scientology clan, if he indeed has any connections. I wonder.

[windchime]

It's from your post #1527. Didn't know what it meant, so I asked.

[syriacus]

Are you getting any impression that there still may be a significant scientology community in that immediate area?

I have to wonder.

FLORIDA POLITICIANS AND OFFICIALS  LENDING UNDUE CREDIBILITY TO SCIENTOLOGY

Some Tampa Bay area public figures who lately have sounded like supporters and defenders of the church - including Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala and political consultant Mary Repper [who handled campaigns for Greer and Lenderman (on Board of the Hospice)]- should know of those hazards. So should Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, who accepted campaign support from Scientologists earlier this year and recently had dinner with actor Tom Cruise, a celebrity Scientologist, at Repper's house.

[Theodore R.]

Updating the procession of events....

Will the Schindlers go back to the clintoid federal judge as he told them (Sept. 2) that they could do in 10 days? That would be next Friday, Sept. 12, the day the feeding tube is likely now to be removed.

It may be though that federal judges don't work on Friday, and they would have to wait until Sept. 15, unless he is taking a Monday off too. Terri might not last before this judge ever decided anything, which might be what the judge would even prefer.

It also may be that the Schindlers are simply out of means to continue the legal battle -- it's been going on for years, and they must be in terrible financial condition.

Is there any hope of a cease-and-desist order from the U.S. attorney general, who might find a violation of the first George Bush's Americans with Disabilities Act?

Time is running out, and nothing concrete seems to be taking shape. This is a black eye for FL, all of America, and indeed the human race.

[Ohioan from Florida]

I just did a search for "Terri Schiavo" by keyword on FR. I wanted to see what other threads there were since I have been focusing on just this one for a few days. Guess what! This thread didn't show up on that search. Since I'm pretty new to posting on FR, can anyone tell me why it didn't list this thread ,too? If it happened for me, maybe others are looking for the latest info on Terri and don't see this topic. Any ideas? Thanks.

[syriacus]

Check for keyword terri

OR keyword schiavo

Or keyword schindler

Some threads have those individual keywords.

[Theodore R.]

Try "Theresa Schindler Schiavo." I'll try it too.