Wis. High Court: Laxative Not Unreasonable Search

[Kadie]

May 18, 2006 5:32 pm US/Eastern

Wis. High Court: Laxative Not Unreasonable Search
(AP) MADISON, Wis. Police officers who forced a drug suspect to drink a laxative in hopes of recovering a swallowed bag of heroin were within their rights, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

Reversing an appeals court decision, the high court said police had a clear expectation that the laxative would help reveal evidence of a crime.

The laxative also may have reduced any danger to Tomas Payano-Roman if the bag had ruptured in his body, the decision said.

Payano-Roman's attorney, Tim Provis, called the decision a defeat for civil rights and said he was considering a federal appeal.

"The average person walking the streets of Milwaukee -- they'd say, 'Gee, cops shouldn't be able to do that.' Now the Supreme Court says go right ahead," Provis said.

snip...
After Payano-Roman was arrested, medical workers decided he should take a laxative, and an officer gave him six doses. The next day, officers retrieved the plastic bag, and Payano-Roman was convicted of heroin possession, the records say.

more...
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/topstories_story_138173454.html

[sybylla]

1. That sure sounds like a civil rights violation to me

It's one thing if the doctors order it. It's another thing to use medical care against a prisoner whatever the end purpose. It would have likely shown up in 24 hours without laxatives.

I don't like this one bit.

[AX10]

2. The government has NO RIGHT to force "medication".

[Generator]

3. Government up your ass

this sums up everything they want. Total control.
Legalize the drugs. It's so stupid. Put warning labels everywhere..preach against them..but if someone wants to ruin their life on drugs-why is that the government's business?

Forced life-their way at all costs.

[lies and propaganda]

4. holy holy holy!

have you ever taken ONE dose of a laxative? Its almost better to be constipated, that shit (ha) is horrible!

[theshadow]

5. I'm very surprised they reversed....

.... based on several previous decisions this term. The Court also made it clear that its decision was based only on the totality of the circumstances of this particular case and was not a general approval of the practice. However, it will be interesting to see what happens if they appeal.