Elvis’s girl defends John Travolta

The sudden death of John Travolta's 16-year old son, Jett, last Friday in the Bahamas has prompted speculation that his demise was in part down to the actor's Scientologist beliefs, which some commentators claim shuns conventional medical treatment in favour of a detoxification programme based on the teachings of the church's founder, Ron L Hubbard. This has so infuriated Lisa Marie Presley (pictured), Elvis's daughter and a fellow Scientologist, that she has issued a defence of Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston, on her MySpace page.

"Two of my very good friends [John and Kelly Travolta], the sweetest people in the world, have just encountered the worst possible tragedy a parent could be forced to endure," she writes. "I am writing this because I have noticed that for the most part, people and the media have been very sympathetic and respectful, but there are those certain ones that want to use this horrible tragedy as an opportunity to once again blame or attack Scientology.

"Folks, as popular as it has been to discriminate and ridicule Scientology and Scientologists in the recent past, now is NOT the time... It is not true that Scientologists 'don't believe' in medical care, medicine or medical doctors... Just like anyone else, if one is sick, they go to the doctor, if a medication will make it better then they take it. I am not writing this to preach my beliefs, I am here to protect my friends."

Speculation about Jett Travolta's death has intensified over the last few days. At first it was thought he'd had a seizure in the bath and died from a head injury, but no head wounds were found. According to reports, Travolta and his wife will be questioned by investigators about his death, although this is a routine formality.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Church of Scientology International, commenting on the Travolta case, said: "The bottom line is that Scientologists seek conventional medical treatment for medical conditions."