Judge: Prison can forcibly medicate Tucson suspect

[Seedersandleechers]

A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the Tucson shooting rampage suspect can be forced to continue taking anti-psychotic drugs, rejecting a plea by defense attorneys that the decision by prison doctors merited more scrutiny.

U.S. District Judge Larry Burns' decision came after Jared Lee Loughner's attorneys filed an emergency request last week to prevent their client's forced medication without a judge's approval. Burns said he did not want to second-guess doctors at the federal prison in Springfield, Mo., who determined that Loughner was a danger.

Defense attorneys said Loughner had been forcibly medicated since June 21.

"I have no reason to disagree with the doctors here," Burns said. "They labor in this vineyard every day."



http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/29/2983916/judge-prison-can-forcibly-medicate.html

I have a problem with forcing medication on anyone.

[ejpoeta]

1. i thought you couldn't force people to take medications in this country.

maybe i was wrong. but that is what i thought.

[backscatter712]

6. He shot nearly 20 people. He got due process over his mental condition in a court.

It pretty much takes something as fucked up as what Loughner did to get court-ordered mental health intervention these days...

[Maru Kitteh]

8. Laughner essentially lost custody of himself when he proved a danger to himself/others

He is a ward of the state. Imminent danger to oneself or others + signature of two physicians = JL loses the legal right to refuse treatment.

It's WAY harder than most people would think to get 2 physicians to sign off on such a thing. Doing so puts their license on the line. It would be even harder in such a high-profile case, imo.

[Historic NY]

9. with a court order you can do anything...

[cali]

10. although this was a federal judge, that is largely governed by state law

and the laws in the states vary re forced medication. In any case, you are wrong.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sell_v._United_States

[BlueIris]

2. Loughtner is a disgusting person, but no one should be forced to take meds.

I hate having to think about a spree killer being victimized, though.

[backscatter712]

5. He got due process.

He got an evaluation by court psychiatrists, who told the court he was a danger to himself and others (no shit, Sherlock), and the court ruled based on that information.

Guess what, it's time for him to get some Thorazine.

[Ptah]

3. It was a medical decision.

Some people are a danger.

[EFerrari]

4. Yup. Even after years in those trenches and watching how ham fisted

some doctors can be, this is probably the right decision in this case.

[Yo_Mama]

7. If the anti-psychotics work

Loughner goes on trial for his life. The attorneys are no doubt arguing from that position. They'd rather see this case tried five or six years from now when the jury members' memories are faded.

But in the meantime, a person as crazy as Loughner really is a danger to himself and others. Medically he should be treated. He is not mentally competent to make this decision for himself.

[Ilsa]

11. He's a danger to himself or others, even in prison. He needs to be

medicated.
I'd hate to see some in prison for having a little weed get attacked by this man. Prisoners deserve protection, too. So do low-paid guards.