Opinion ID: 624293
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Emergency Medication Proceeding

Text: On July 1, a motions panel of this Court granted Loughner's motion for a temporary stay of involuntary medication pending appeal. On July 12, the panel continued the stay, with the clarification that it applied specifically to psychotropic medication and that other measures (such as involuntarily administered tranquilizers) remained available. In response to this Court's stay orders, FMC-Springfield immediately stopped administering Loughner's psychotropic medication. Loughner's condition deteriorated significantly after the sudden withdrawal of medication. On July 8, FMC-Springfield placed him on suicide watch. Ten days later, FMC-Springfield doctors determined that he was a severe danger to himself and authorized psychotropic medication on an emergency basis, a decision this Court was also asked to stay but did not. On August 11, the defense filed a motion seeking to enjoin the emergency administration of psychotropic medication, which the district court denied.