Natalee Holloway: A Case That Captivated The Nation

The Moral Case of Forcible Medication

In February 2006, a bill was put before Utah legislature to allow doctors to forcibly medicate those unfit to stand trial so they could become mentally sound enough to testify. This motion was sought for both Wanda Barzee and Mitchell; however, it was only approved for Barzee.

At this time, Mitchell was more unwell than ever. He was declared unfit to stand trial yet again in December of 2006 when he yelled at a judge during a hearing. Doctors had been treating Mitchell without medication because he refused, but a court request was made for permission to forcibly administer drugs. In 2008, it was ruled that Mitchell couldn’t legally be forced to take medication in the state of Utah because it was “unnecessary and needlessly harsh.”