title: The Defense of Involuntary Intoxication by Prescribed Medications: An Appellate Case Review.
abstract: The defense of involuntary intoxication has long been an exception to the general notion that intoxication is not a defense to criminal liability. The consumption of medications prescribed by a physician can form the basis of an involuntary-intoxication defense. In this article, I review cases where defendants relied on the use of prescribed medications for an involuntary-intoxication defense. The medications most frequently implicated by defendants are listed by name and by class. From the case law, I provide a summary of the defense and a review of the pitfalls of the defense to serve as practice pointers for forensic evaluators.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Piel is a Staff Psychiatrist, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA. jennifer.piel@va.gov.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piel
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D003416:Criminal Law; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D011041:Poisoning; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs