Anderson v. State

OPINION

CONTRERAS, Judge.

At issue is the right of an adult who has not been adjudged incompetent but who is involuntarily committed to the Arizona State Hospital (ASH) to refuse, in non-emergency situations, to take psychotropic (anti-psychotic) drugs prescribed for his treatment. We conclude that such drugs can only be administered in strict accordance with the Arizona Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), and that, absent the statutory preconditions, the trial court erred in ordering administration of such drugs to appellant. We therefore reverse and remand.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Appellant is a…