Opinion ID: 624293
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Third Harper Proceeding

Text: On September 15, 2011, FMC-Springfield conducted its third Harper hearing ( Harper III ). Doctor Tomelleri, again presiding, concluded that involuntary psychotropic medication was justified on the basis of the danger Loughner posed to himself. In reaching this result, Dr. Tomelleri noted that Loughner's condition deteriorated significantly after involuntary medication was discontinued in July, and observed that, although many of Loughner's psychotic symptoms had abated after medication resumed, he continued to exhibit signs of restlessness, guilt, and suicidal ideation. Doctor Tomelleri determined that psychotropic medication was justified because [d]iscontinuation . . . is virtually certain to result in an exacerbation of Mr. Loughner's illness as it did when medication was discontinued in July. Echoing, nearly verbatim, the justification asserted in the Harper I and Harper II proceedings, he added that [p]sychotropic medication is the treatment of choice for conditions such as Mr. Loughner is experiencing, and rejected [o]ther measures, such as psychotherapy, [because they] do not address the fundamental problem. He further noted that [s]eclusion and restraints are merely protective temporary measures with no direct effect on the core manifestations of the mental illness. As in the Harper I proceeding, Dr. Tomelleri did not specify any limits on the types or dosages medications that might be involuntarily administered or describe the proposed future treatment plan. He did, however, list Loughner's current medication regimen, and indicated that a treatment plan could be found on Loughner's chart. On appeal, the warden determined that Loughner had been afforded his due process rights and, rejecting alternatives because they would not impact the underlying cause or relieve the symptoms of [Loughner's] mental illness, upheld Dr. Tomelleri's involuntary medication order. After his administrative appeal was denied, Loughner filed an emergency motion in the district court to enjoin his involuntary medication under the Harper III order. In addition to reiterating his previous arguments, Loughner argued that his staff representative had provided inadequate representation and that the Bureau of Prisons had not established that antipsychotic medication was needed to treat his dangerousness to self. The district court briefly addressed Loughner's motion at the § 4241(d)(2)(A) commitment hearing conducted on September 28, 2011, and in the ensuing written opinion.