There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” ― Elie Wiesel
Public outcry from across North America, has once again gathered protesters in front of another Scientology rehab center. This time Narconon of Georgia faces off of with protesters from several States following the death of Patrick Desmond in 2008. Protesters are intent on bringing attention to all the recent deaths at Narconon Georgia and Narconon Arrowhead in Oklahoma over the past few years, including three fatalities in 2012.
On August 25th this year, 40-50 protesters stood in front of Narconon Arrowhead with large signs, a loud speaker, and voices that bent many a staff and media ear. Several TV News stations filmed the colorful event and interviewed some of the grieving families.
On August 25th this year, 40-50 protesters stood in front of Narconon Arrowhead with large signs, a loud speaker, and voices that bent many a staff and media ear. Several TV News stations filmed the colorful event and interviewed some of the grieving families.
Another large protest in Quebec, Canada, attracted concerned citizens from several cities, but ended up being a celebration instead of the scheduled protest. Following lengthy investigations by the College of Physicians and Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services, the health agency shut down the Scientology rehab on April 17, 2012 - - citing patient safety as an immediate concern.
To date, at least fifteen (15), patients have died inside Narconon centers, many have attempted suicide, and many more perished after leaving.
State Court Judge Stacey Hydrick on Monday, issued a severe Sanction Order against Narconon of Georgia in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by lawyer Jeff Harris. "They were essentially running a drug rehab facility that was basically a zoo. There just wasn't any supervision and it was completely out of control” said Harris.
Unlike most other reputable addiction treatment centers, Narconon employs recent program graduates as counselors and detoxification specialists, with most only holding a computer generated certificate after completing a brief Scientology training course at the centers. As stated by numerous expert physicians in detoxification and addiction treatment, Narconon is unsafe and dangerous to patients.
The State of Oklahoma's examiners reported that “Narconon employs staff inadequately educated and trained in the care and treatment of drug and alcohol abuse clients. Such a practice endangers the safety, health and/or the physical or mental well-being of the clients of Narconon.”
A significant problem identified by the State of Oklahoma's investigative team in 1991 was the use of Narconon's own clients in the delivery of the Narconon programme: “Narconon permits clients under treatment for drug and alcohol abuse to handle and provide medications to fellow Narconon clients, to supervise the sauna treatment of fellow Narconon clients, and to supervise Narconon clients with psychiatric disorders. Such practices endanger the client's health and safety and are not in accord with acceptable drug and alcohol treatment.”
“To subject people to these potentially serious side effects on the pretense that they are being "detoxified", "cleared" or "purified" is quackery” states Dr. John Chelf of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bruce A. Roe, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry: “Overall the program proposed by Mr. Hubbard is pure unadulterated "cow pies". It is filled with some scientific truth but mainly is illogical and the conclusions drawn by Mr. Hubbard are without any basis in scientific fact.”
Countless similar reviews of Scientology’s rehab program emphasise questionable, pseudoscience practices and unsafe therapies and treatments at Narconon.
The entire Narconon program consists of Scientology Training Routines, Objectives Auditing Sessions, and patient participation in Scientology religious practices that, in many cases, leaves the victim confused, disoriented, and often far worse off after the program than before.
What Scientology terms “duplication” in training routines and drills, are in essence, repetition and word association - - a common process used in mind control by many cults. What the mind hears the most it believes. Most Narconon victims are totally unaware that they have signed up for Scientology courses and paid $30,000 to be cult indoctrinated. They receive no addiction therapy or treatment for any mental illness often associated with drug abuse.
And since Scientology is anti-psychiatry and anti-pharmaceutical drugs that help some individuals cope in society, the Narconon patient is taken off physician prescribed meds, with often devastating and sometimes fatal consequences.
Senator Ivester:
With so much media exposure over the past two years, government, health, politicians, and even the Sheriff’s office, have launched investigations into the recent deaths at Narconon. New legislation is being drafted in Oklahoma by Senator Ivester and States are reviewing mental health regulations to ensure the safety of desperate patients seeking help.
Patrick W. Desmond was born in Fayetville, NC, to Patrick and Mary Colleen Desmond. His father, a retired U.S. Army officer now working with the military of the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi, said school was always difficult for his son.
Patrick entered the U.S. Marine Corps, finding a place in life where he began to excel. Stationed at Camp Pendleton in Southern California, he became one of the youngest Marines ever to complete Scout Swimmer School and was selected for both Scout Sniper School and the Marine Mountain Warfare School.
In August 2008 a candlelight vigil was held in honor of Patrick Desmond - - “Our deepest sympathies to his family.”
Candlelight Video:
October 5, 2012 - WSB TV Action News Atlanta, GA investigative report of the tragic death of Patrick Desmond in 2008:
Until there are changes made regarding safety or governments shut down Narconon centers, it appears protesters will continue to keep bringing the deaths and abuses to the forefront and attention of appropriate authorities.
Court Documents at Reaching for the Tipping Point:
David Edgar Love
Breaking news yesterday of Judge Stacey Hydrick sanctioning Narconon of Georgia received cheers from far and wide. Narconon Executive Director Mary Rieser was caught lying under oath in as many as ten depositions. Judge Hydrick concluded that, when she asked Riser on the stand about the omissions and false declarations, Narconon’s leader was simply not credible in her responses - - failing to tell the truth.
Attorney Jeff Harris, representing the family of Patrick Desmond who died in 2008 while enrolled at Narconon of Georgia, says the ruling for sanctions is so strong; lawyers often refer to it as the civil-case version of the death penalty.
Sanction Order:
This case will now be heard by the jury uncontested and it is unlikely Judge Hydrick will permit another delay in the Desmond trial so that an appeal can be heard in a higher court.
Scientology has a lengthy history of their disdain for the rule of law and harsh rebukes from prominent Judges - - declarations such as “schizophrenic and paranoid” - - “no individual or organization was free from their despicable conspiratorial minds” - - "Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious...”
Scientology has a lengthy history of their disdain for the rule of law and harsh rebukes from prominent Judges - - declarations such as “schizophrenic and paranoid” - - “no individual or organization was free from their despicable conspiratorial minds” - - "Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious...”
"It is an organization with medical, social and ethical practices that are dangerous and harmful," Judge Constandia Angelaki wrote in her [December 1996] ruling. "It claims to act freely so as to draw members who subsequently undergo brainwashing by dictated ways of thinking that limit reaction capabilities."
Scientology is now facing as many as ten civil cases in the USA and Canada stemming from their Narconon rehab deaths, negligence and human rights abuses. Three recent deaths at Narconon Arrowhead and the death of Patrick Desmond at Narconon of Georgia, have initiated investigations by Health, Sheriff, and other governing authorities, including Senator Ivister in Oklahoma.
It is clear to many, that these deaths are not isolated incidents, as Scientology so often claims when being investigated. In fact, there is a recorded history of fifteen patient deaths while attending Narconons around the globe dating back to 1984 in France, and subsequent years in Germany, Italy, Holland, and three deaths at Narconon Arrowhead, Oklahoma in 2012.
“Why are these patients dying while being treated inside Narconon”, I heard from a concerned citizen this morning. “How can this be happening in the United States?” Many are dumfounded as to why the health and government authorities allow such dangerous, negligent practices.
It appears that victims, media, and the public, are no longer in fear of Scientology’s harassment and overt intimidation of those who speak out and report the atrocities inside the secret cult rehab centers. Scientology is now facing exposure in present time - - in the public courtyards of justice, with apparently no end in sight.
L. Ron Hubbard declared in January 1966 Policy Letter “Somebody someday will say ‘this is illegal.’ By then be sure the orgs [Scientology organizations] say what is legal or not." And in August 1960, a Hubbard Policy Letter states “"If attacked on some vulnerable point by anyone or anything or any organization, always find or manufacture enough threat against them to cause them to sue for peace."
Perhaps Hubbard’s followers, the leader of Scientology, David Miscavige, and their infamous "Intelligence Section", Office of Special Affairs (OSA), should heed the wisdom of Australia Senator Xenophon “In Australia there are no limits on what you can believe, but there are limits on how you can behave - it's called the law and no one is above it.” And the wisdom of President Theodore Roosevelt “No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man’s permission when we ask him to obey it.”
Additional Court Documents - Patrick Desmond Case at Reaching for the Tipping Point:
Judge imposes sanctions on Scientology-connected drug treatment facility
A DeKalb County, GA state judge sanctioned a Norcross, GA drug treatment center that has connections to the Church of Scientology. Part of the sanctions include the withdrawal of the treatment facility’s response to allegations surrounding a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of a former patient.
On 5 November, Judge Stacey K. Hydrick stated in a court order that 'Narconon of Georgia' had,
“…intentionally, willfully and repeatedly provided false and misleading responses to plaintiff’s discovery requests regarding issues relevant to the resolution of this case.”
The court order also stated that Narconon,
"…repeatedly failed to produce, and on multiple occasions falsely denied the existence of clearly relevant, responsive documents and information."
According to a report in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, this ruling will be at the advantage of the parents of the victim. According to the report, University of Georgia law professor Ron Carlson says the sanctions are uncommon, and is likely one of the sharpest-worded rebukes one is apt to find in our courts.
The suit claims that Patrick Desmond died of a drug overdose four years ago while a patient at Narconon of Georgia. Further allegations include an accusation that the facility misled them into believing the organization provided in-patient care. The state received ten years worth of complaints that Narconon had been illegally operating a residential facility. Narconon lacked the proper licenses required to offer this type of care. Additionally, the suit accuses Narconon of Georgia of lying to Florida’s drug court.
The sanctions imposed by the judge will not allow those allegations to be contested in the trial. In a statement, Steve Miller and Barbara Marschalk, lawyers for Narconon said they 'respectfully disagree,' and,
“We are now pursuing the only avenue available to us to try to seek appellate review of the order at this time.”
The law states, however, that an appeal cannot be granted without Judge Hydrick’s permission.
The Church of Scientology has many administrators within Narconon, and these individuals are committed Scientologists. Furthermore, the methods used in Narconon are based on teachings of Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard. Narconon, at one point, used unaltered Scientology materials in its courses, and Scientology executives ran the organization.
In April 1970, Scientology spokesman Max Prudente described Narconon as being based solely on the philosophy and tenets of Scientology, and claimed an 85% success rate.
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