CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — The Church of Scientology settled a lawsuit that accused staff members of allowing a member of the church to become severely dehydrated and die.
Lisa McPherson, 36, died in 1995 after 17 days of care by Scientology staffers. The lawsuit, filed by her family, spawned a number of related legal actions as McPherson's death became a rallying point for an anti-Scientology movement.
The church said McPherson died from a pulmonary embolism, the result of a minor traffic accident she had the day before she was taken to the church spiritual headquarters in Clearwater.
Police had taken her to a hospital after the accident, but she left with Scientology officials, who wanted her to avoid psychiatric treatment because it went against church teachings. Doctors had said McPherson was battling a severe mental breakdown.