Legal brief addressing a ‘Not Guilty’ by reason of insanity in which psychiatric drug non-compliance was a factor
Compliance, or now more recently called adherence, is a topic well known to clinicians. Lack of taking medications results in the loss of any beneficial effects of any type of chronic (or even acute) drug therapy.
The topic was addressed in a recent murder trial in Cook County (Chicago, IL). For those of you who are health care professionals, this may interest you. For the lawyers, and do criminal (and possibly) civil law, the topic of compliance and adherence may be addressed in a variety of cases, not just murder cases.
James T. O’Donnell served as a pharmacologist expert for the defense in the Trial. A Legal Brief by the defense attorney is attached. It reads well and, as we stated, you may find it interesting and useful.
(After reading the brief, email me if you are interested in the Verdict in the case.)
