Forced Drugging OK'd By Federal Court

Thursday, March 28, 2002

(From the Drug Policy Alliance-
formerly the Lindesmith Center- Drug Policy Foundation)

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According to a press release issued by the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, defendants can be forcibly drugged even though they haven’t been convicted of any charges and pose no danger to themselves or others.

That’s the ruling issued yesterday by the Federal Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in the case of United States v. Charles Thomas Sell. (Need Adobe Reader to access this link-ed.) The 2 - 1 split decision establishes government power to forcibly medicate a person with mind altering drugs even before trial.

"It’s a shocking, inhumane decision. Now, all the government needs are allegations and a cooperative psychiatrist to forcibly drug any citizen," said Andrew Schlafly, General Counsel for the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS). That group filed an amicus brief opposing the government drugging.

"It’s unprecedented to allow prosecutors to drug peaceful defendants presumed to be innocent. Government cannot force citizens to pledge allegiance to the flag, but now can forcibly medicate them with mind-altering drugs," said Mr. Schlafly.

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