Court found Respondent to be subject to the involuntary administration of psychotropic medication. If a patient is willing to take some medications voluntarily, treatment with those medications is a less restrictive form of treatment that must be explored and found to be inappropriate before a court may authorize involuntary medication of the patient. There was evidence that, in addition to severe anxiety, Respondent experienced anger, hostility, paranoid delusions, and somatic preoccupations that caused him to believe that a dental infection had spread throughout his body through his bloodstream. Psychiatrist testified that these symptoms could only be treated with antipsychotic medications. The record establishes that it was not appropriate to administer only an antianxiety medication without also administering antipsychotic medication to treat Reponsent's other symptoms. Evidence was sufficient to prove that less restrictive services were explored and found to be inappropriate. (WELCH and MOORE, concurring.)
Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Involuntary Administration of Medication