Myers v. Alaska Psychiatric Institute

OPINION

BRYNER, Chief Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

Faith Myers, after being involuntarily committed to the Alaska Psychiatric Institute, appealed a superior court order approving nonconsensual administration of psychotropic drugs by the institute. She argues that the statutes relied on by the court in approving the medication violate the Alaska Constitution’s guarantees of privacy and liberty. We agree. In keeping with most state courts that have addressed the issue, we hold that, in the absence of emergency, a court may not authorize the state to administer psychotropic drugs to a non-consenting…