(Image Source: All Voices)

BY: MADISON MACK

ANCHOR: AUSTIN KIM

A federal appeals court has denied an emergency motion to stop prison officials from giving Tuscon shooting suspect Jared Loughner anti-psychotic medication against his will.

Loughner was ruled incompetent to stand trial after he was diagnosed with schizophrenia in May. He was forcibly medicated between June 21 and July 1 after prison officials determined he was a threat to those around him.

But on July 12 -  the appeals court ruled that Lougher could not be forced to take the drugs, saying quote

“saying Loughner's interest in not suffering the risk of side effects from powerful drugs is stronger than the government's interest in protecting him and those around him.” (WSJ)

So why the change of heart? According to prosecutors – his mental and physical health had rapidly declining after he stopped taking the psychotropic drugs.

“…in recent days Loughner exhibited a variety of signs of distress and/or mental illness, such as saying he was being controlled by the radio, pacing, crying uncontrollably, rocking in his cell, refusing meals and threatening to commit suicide.”

But Loughners’ defense lawyers argue that his due-process rights are still being violated.

“… twice-daily, 1 milligram dose of risperidone that Loughner began receiving this week is not the treatment that would typically be used in an emergency situation to get control of someone who posed a threat to himself. It is more typical of long-term treatment that is ‘precisely the medication regime halted by this court's injunction...”

In his filing, U.S. Attorney for Arizona Dennis Burke said …

“…despite being under suicide watch, Loughner’s unmediated behavior is endangering him and that no measure short of medication will protect him from himself more than temporarily because they do not address the mental state which underlies his self-destructive actions.”

But on their blog, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights of St. Louis says the symptoms Loughner was experiencing could actually be caused by withdrawal from the drugs.

“…Sudden withdrawal from risperidone specifically has the side effects of depression, hostility, violence, mood changes, unusual behavior, and suicidal thoughts. … there is still a serious violation of medical ethics and human rights in forcibly drugging a person with addictive, psychotropic drugs that have the same behavioral results for which the person is ostensibly being ‘treated.'"

A full hearing on the medication issue has been set for the week of Aug. 29 in San Francisco.
 

Follow Newsy on Twitter @Newsy_Videos to receive current video news in your stream.

Transcript by Newsy.