Court studies forced medication of Jared Lee Loughner
The mental competency of Jared Lee Loughner continues to be in dispute. In order to stand trial on murder charges, Loughner must be declared mentally competent. In order to help Loughner become mentally competent, he has been forcibly medicated at a prison hospital against his will. However, Loughner's attorneys won a temporary victory at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit this week that may change that.
Loughner suffers from various psychological issues and is being housed at a prison hospital until he is deemed mentally capable of standing trial. He has met with a court-appointed psychologist a number of instances in March, but on two occasions, Loughner grew angry and heaved a chair at the individual. Two medical experts confirmed at a competency hearing that Loughner suffers from both schizophrenia and delusions.
