Opinion ID: 1678012
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: safeguards

Text: The above facts alone establish that appellant was afforded the protections of the Due Process Clause under Harper and Riggins. However, the trial court made it clear that it was very reluctant to order the involuntary treatment. The order stated: Antipsychotic medications alter that mysterious area of existence that we call being. These medications have the potential to fundamentally change the thought pattern and behavioral pattern of the individual to whom they are administered. It is impossible to say whether the true individual is the one presenting the symptomatology described as psychosis, or the individual that is manifested after the treatment of psychosis. The very essence of humanity, the foundation of individuality is potentially affected by the administration of antipsychotic drugs. This reluctance prompted the trial court to issue several safeguards to restrict the intrusion to appellant's liberty to a minimum. The safeguards included provisions which ordered that the treatment be discontinued in the event any side effects became apparent, that the dosage be kept to a minimum, and that the medication only be administered with the goal of removing the psychosis, not sedating appellant. The trial court also permitted appellant to request any additional appropriate safeguards within 5 days of the order. The record does not reflect that such requests were made by appellant. Given these precautions, it is evident that the lower court properly ordered the involuntary treatment.