Involuntary Medications

The decision to use psychiatric medications over a patient’s objections can present complex ethical and legal concerns. While the early part of the psychopharmacology revolution saw little external oversight of forced treatment, the last few decades have increasingly seen a shift away from paternalistic treatment-driven models and toward patients’ rights-driven models, with ramifications for treating over objection in both clinical and forensic settings. The determination of who may be involuntarily medicated and under what conditions varies dramatically across state and federal jurisdictions. These laws are also shaped by regional politics and cultural values that attempt to balance individual liberties, the right to proper treatment, governmental interests, and psychiatric professional expertise. The consequences of improperly treating an objecting patient can be severe, ranging from medical board sanctions to criminal charges and/or civil suits.