Opinion ID: 3134228
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ill 2d 450 (1994), because he was taking psychotropic drugs or

Text: other medications under medical direction (725 ILCS 5/104--21(a) (West 1992)) at the time of the trial and sentencing hearing in this case. Specifically, the defendant asserts that he was then taking Dilantin, for treatment of epilepsy, and he further states that he had previously taken two others drugs, Tegretol, also for epilepsy, and Elavil, an antidepressant. We note that the record discloses only that the defendant was receiving Dilantin at the time relevant here; evidence of his treatment may be found in the testimony of Dr. Wetzel, who related that the defendant was receiving the drug when she interviewed him shortly before trial. It appears that the defendant had epilepsy and that he took Dilantin as treatment for that condition. The State argues, however, that the special protection afforded by section 104--21(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 must be limited to psychotropic drugs, and that Dilantin is not a psychotropic drug. Our recent opinion in People v. Britz, No. 76618 (October 18, 1996), resolves a number of the issues here. In Britz, this court construed the reference in section 104--21(a) to psychotropic drugs or other medications as being limited to psychotropic drugs; accordingly, treatment with a nonpsychotropic medication is not sufficient to trigger the statute. Slip op. at 24-25. The question remains whether Dilantin is properly classified as a psychotropic drug, and therefore whether the defendant's use of that medication during trial would have entitled the defendant to a fitness hearing under the provisions of section 104--21(a). Britz further clarified what drugs are psychotropic by adopting the definition found in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code (405 ILCS 5/1--100 through 6--107 (West 1994)). Slip op. at 25-26. Section 1--121.1 of the Code defines the term psychotropic medication as a medication whose use for antipsychotic, antidepressant, antimanic, antianxiety, behavioral modification or behavioral management purposes is listed in AMA Drug Evaluations, latest edition, or Physician's Desk Reference, latest edition, or which are administered for any of these purposes. 405 ILCS 5/1--121.1 (West Supp. 1995). Applying this definition, we conclude that Dilantin is not a psychotropic drug for purposes of the fitness provision of section 104--21(a). Dilantin is prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy, not for any of the purposes specified in the definition found in section 1-- 121.1 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Moreover, neither of the references cited in the preceding definition indicate that Dilantin is used for psychotropic purposes. According to the Physician's Desk Reference, Dilantin (phenytoin) is an anticonvulsant drug used to treat epilepsy and to prevent and treat seizures occurring during or following neurosurgery. Physician's Desk Reference 1906--13 (50th ed. 1996); see also AMA Drug Evaluations 371 (AMA 1994) (phenytoin is a drug used to control epileptic seizures). Because the defendant was not entitled to a fitness hearing under section 104--21(a), defense counsel could not have been ineffective for failing to seek one pursuant to that provision. Accordingly, we do not address the defendant's additional argument that he received ineffective assistance of counsel when his trial attorneys failed to invoke section 104-- 21(a). In the alternative, the defendant asks that we now remand the cause to the circuit court so that additional information may be presented about other medications the defendant might have been receiving at the time of trial. The defendant has found references in various portions of the record in this case to his prior treatment with two other drugs: Tegretol, another epilepsy medication, and Elavil, an antidepressant. The defendant notes that a similar procedure was followed in People v. Kinkead, 168 Ill. 2d 394 (1995). We believe that Kinkead is readily distinguishable from the present case. In Kinkead, the defendant's presentence report related the defendant's statement that he had been taking Thorazine, a psychotropic drug, while in jail awaiting trial on the charges in that case; the report also noted other drugs the defendant had previously received for treatment of depression. In addition, the report referred to suicide attempts by the defendant, and to his treatment at Menard Psychiatric Center. Kinkead, 168