OperatingSP
Patron with Honors
Very interesting sub-threat on Marty's blog about the Purif. It came up in the context of the discussion of NN Arrowhead, but the discussion in more broadly relevant -- and not at all limited to the Independent Scientology scene.
http://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/narconon-scientology-inc-cover-up/#comment-221545
http://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/narconon-scientology-inc-cover-up/#comment-221545
Don Cramer | August 17, 2012 at 11:17 pm | Reply
I haven’t read the references in years, but I’ve C/S’d hundreds of people through the Purification Rundown and in retrospect it is clear that LRH did not place nearly enough emphasis on the medical supervision aspect of the program – which was also compounded by his repeated condemnation of the medical profession that rubbed off on me and every other Scientologist I’ve ever known.
Although I studied pre-med courses in college, have a degree in biology, was VERY sensitive to the symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion, made sure that EVERYONE had a twin before I allowed them to start the program (talk about flaps), and insisted on periodic blood pressure checks, it was still sheer luck that that no-one ever died on my watch. I feel blessed it never happened. And yes, the above are my attempted justifications for placing people in a potentially deadly situation.
I won’t bother going into the lack of thoroughness of most pre-Purif medical screenings I’ve witnessed over the years (despite the use of the MD information package), but I’m sure you other Purif C/S’s and I/C’s have noted similar situations. I don’t think I need to say any more except that if anyone is running or planning to run a purification center of their own, you really need to understand the strenuousness of the program on the circulatory system and liver, the absolute necessity of a THOROUGH medical evaluation, and vigilant medical supervision. I’m not going to say I’ve never seen results, even miraculous ones, from the program, but the entire modus operandi of how it is administered needs to be changed.
Finally, I’d like to end by giving my public condolences to the family of Dan Kolbenschlag, CPA, who was my accountant until he reportedly died of heart failure after doing a Purification R/D at the Washington, DC org several years ago. He was a good man and it was heartbreaking talking to his daughter when arranging to get my tax records. Peace be with you.
And Mike Hoy, I love you but wake the fuck up, smell the coffee and get out of the Narcanon Network AND the church.
noteacherleftstanding | August 18, 2012 at 10:36 am | Reply
“… in retrospect it is clear that LRH did not place nearly enough emphasis on the medical supervision aspect of the program – which was also compounded by his repeated condemnation of the medical profession that rubbed off on me and every other Scientologist I’ve ever known.”
You make an important and well-reasoned point, Don.
While LRH stressed the importance of medical screenings for a variety of ills (including psychotic episodes), the pre-screening and oversight of the purif was lax, at best, from my observation. And this is a good example of where his work can be refined and improved; heretical as it may seem to some.
Vic K.
TroubleShooter | August 18, 2012 at 3:57 pm | Reply
“LRH did not place nearly enough emphasis on the medical supervision aspect of the program – which was also compounded by his repeated condemnation of the medical profession that rubbed off on me and every other Scientologist I’ve ever known.”
True words spoken.
In decades of experience I heard of no deaths by purif in any orgs. That doesn’t mean there weren’t but I haven’t learned of any since working on my doctorate on “Scientology: The After-Math” (so-to-speak and referring to the time period since I was able to separate ME out from me+Scientology. It IS surprising to me that this is the case considering how many exams to do the Purif are done by chiros etc who are onlines in an org and feel elevated to some higher level of importance it seems to be asked to do these medical exams.
Do thorough interviews and use MDs to do the exams. The results of the program are undeniably to me.