Hospital can continue to medicate Loughner

[alp227]

Source: UPI

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- A federal judge has effectively approved a U.S. prison hospital's decision to medicate accused Tucson shooter Jared Loughner without his consent.

Loughner, who allegedly killed six people and wounded 13 in a spree aimed at U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., has been found incompetent to stand trial. He is being held in the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Mo.

At a hearing Friday in San Diego, U.S. District Judge Larry Burns cited evidence that Loughner deteriorated dramatically when he was taken off medication July 1, the Arizona Daily Star reported. Burns rejected a request by Loughner's lawyers to hold a hearing on the forcible medication.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/08/27/Hospital-can-continue-to-medicate-Loughner/UPI-73781314484392/

[elleng]

1. IMO he's incompetent to GIVE consent.

Those better informed may want to comment.

[Warpy]

2. He is. And it's uncompassionate to leave him that way

Involuntarily committed for life would be the best way to deal with the guy. We know he won't take his drugs on the outside and that's a public safety issue. He doesn't belong in a prison population, either.

[elleng]

3. Right.

[EFerrari]

5. Yep.

[BadtotheboneBob]

6. Agree...

There's no doubt in my mind that he committed the crime while out of his mind. That said, if they did medicate him to the point of competency, how can they morally prosecute him for his actions while incompetent. Lifetime incarceration in a Federal prison for the criminally insane is warranted. I don't have a problem with court-ordered medication, by force if necessary, in order to lessen the danger to other inmates. But, life incarcerated, indeed.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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