Thomas

James Thomas, a prisoner at the California Medical Facility, appeals from the order of the superior court that he be administered psychotropic drugs involuntarily.

Thomas had been administered drugs pursuant to a court order which expired on October 15. He immediately refused to continue his medication, and within one month stopped eating and drinking, refused to wear clothing, stopped walking, and stopped communicating with anyone. The People, following the procedures outlined in Keyhea v. Rushen (1986) 178 Cal.App.3d 526 [ 223 Cal. Rptr. 746 ], and in an injunction thereafter issued by the superior court (order granting plaintiffs’ motion for clarification and modification of injunction and permanent injunction, filed Oct. 31, 1986, in Keyhea v. Rushen, Solano County, No. 67432, hereafter, the Injunction), caused him to be involuntarily medicated on a short-term basis and petitioned the court for the order from which Thomas now appeals. At the hearing on the People’s petition, the state called as an expert witness a psychiatrist familiar with Thomas’s medical records. The witness stated his opinion that Thomas suffered from schizophrenia, catatonic type, chronic, with…