The New York Times obviously has no editors and no fact checkers.
Their big fashion feature today is about Rebecca Minkoff, who is revealed as a member of the “church” of Scientology, a dangerous cult. The Times writer, Jessica Testa, allows Minkoff to blow off any inquiries.
But Minkoff and her family have been in Scientology for more than 30 years. Her father, Dr. David Minkoff, was the ER doctor selected by the cult to pronounce the death of Lisa McPherson, a member who died infamously under their care.
The Lisa McPherson death is a watershed moment in the history of this crazy group. At 18 years old, in 1995, McPherson, a member, was in a minor car accident. At the ER, she exhibited odd behavior. A judge later concluded: “Lisa McPherson refused psychiatric observation or admission at the hospital; she expressly stated her desire to receive the religious care and assistance from her fellow congregants that she and they wanted her to have.”
From Wikipedia:
On December 5, 1995, Church staffers contacted David Minkoff, a Scientologist medical doctor who twice prescribed McPherson Valium and chloral hydrate without examining her. They requested for him to prescribe an antibiotic to McPherson because she seemed to have an infection. Minkoff refused, stating that she should be taken to a hospital and he needed to see her before prescribing anything. They objected, expressing fear that McPherson would be put under psychiatric care. Dr. Janice Johnson, a senior medical officer at the Fort Harrison Hotel who was assigned to care for McPherson, stated that she had been gasping and had labored breathing while en route. However, they passed a total of four hospitals along the way to their ultimate destination.
When they arrived at Minkoff’s hospital forty-five minutes north of Clearwater, McPherson exhibited no vital signs. Hospital staff attempted to resuscitate her for twenty minutes before declaring her dead.
In a wrongful death suit, Dr, David Minkoff had to pay $100,000 t0 Lisa McPherson’s estate. You can read about it here.
Everyone involved in this Rebecca Minkoff story at the Times should be fired. This is outrageous.
