Editing Scientology controversies (section)

===Death of Lisa McPherson===
{{Main|Death of Lisa McPherson|Introspection Rundown}}
[[File:Lisa McPherson raw scan.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Lisa McPherson]]

The most widely publicized death of one of the organization's members was that of 36-year-old [[Lisa McPherson]] while in the care of Scientologists at the Scientology-owned Fort Harrison Hotel, in [[Clearwater, Florida]], in 1995. McPherson, at the time, was displaying symptoms suggesting she was struggling with [[mental illness]]; in one case, she removed all of her clothes after being involved in a minor traffic accident, later remarking she had done so in hopes of obtaining counseling.<ref name="publiceye98">
{{cite interview|first=Bonnie|last=Portlano|interviewer=Kristin Jeannette-Meyers|work=CBS Public Eye|date=1998-01-07|title=Interview}}</ref> The Church, however, intervened to prevent McPherson from receiving psychiatric treatment and to keep her in Church custody. Records show that she was then placed in a Scientology program, the [[Introspection Rundown]], which was forced isolation used to handle a psychotic episode.<ref>{{cite web| first = Thomas C.| last = Tobin| title = Scientologists decry toll of criminal case| url = http://www.sptimes.com/News/030900/TampaBay/Scientologists_decry_.shtml| work = [[St. Petersburg Times]]| date = 2000-03-09| access-date = 2007-09-17| archive-date = December 19, 2000| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20001219070900/http://www.sptimes.com/News/030900/TampaBay/Scientologists_decry_.shtml| url-status = live}}</ref> Weeks later, she was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital. The [[autopsy]] identified multiple [[hematoma]]s (bruises), an abrasion on the nose, and [[lesions]] that were consistent with "insect/animal bites".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shipbrook.com/jeff/CoS/autopsy.html |title=Web site: Lisa McPherson: Coroner's Report transcript |publisher=Shipbrook.com |date=2012-05-09 |access-date=2012-09-05 |archive-date=March 13, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010313001707/http://www.shipbrook.com/jeff/CoS/autopsy.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> An [[autopsy]] showed that she had died of a [[pulmonary embolism]].

Florida authorities filed criminal charges against the Church of Scientology, who denied any responsibility for McPherson's death and vigorously contested the charges. The prosecuting attorneys ultimately dropped the criminal case. After four years, a $100 million civil lawsuit filed by Lisa McPherson's family was settled in 2004. The suit resulted in an injunction against the distribution of a film critical of Scientology, ''[[The Profit (film)|The Profit]]'', which the Church claimed was meant to influence the jury. The terms of the settlement were sealed by the court.<ref>{{cite web| first = Robert| last = Farley| title = Scientologists settle death suit| url = http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/29/Tampabay/Scientologists_settle.shtml| work = St. Petersburg Times| date = 2004-05-29| access-date = 2007-09-17| archive-date = March 20, 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180320120926/http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/29/Tampabay/Scientologists_settle.shtml| url-status = live}}</ref>