Murderer can be forced to take medication to become sane enough to be executed
BMJ 2003; 327 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7420.889-c (Published 16 October 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;327:889
- Scott Gottlieb
- New York
The US Supreme Court has let stand a ruling by a federal appeals court in February that officials in the state of Arkansas had the right to force a convicted murderer to take drug treatment to make him sane enough to be executed.
Charles Singleton
Credit: AP PHOTO/DANNY JOHNSTON
In 1986 the Supreme Court proclaimed it illegal to execute people unless they understood that they were being put to death and why.
An appeals court based in St Louis ruled in February this year that the constitution's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment would not be violated if the authorities forcibly gave antipsychotic medication to …
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