PSY 392A - Sell v. United States (2003)

Tldr; Dr. Charles Sell was a dentist convicted of multiple counts of health care fraud. He was diagnosed as suffering from "delusional disorder," and while the trial court did not find him to be a danger to himself or others, it did conclude that absent antipsychotic medication he was not competent to stand trial. The Court concluded that forced medication is permissible only if it is medically appropriate, unlikely to have significant side effects affecting trial fairness, and necessary to further important governmental interests, such as ensuring a defendant's competence to stand trial.