Judge gives doctors OK to force drugs on patient

The woman has refused to take prescribed medications.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A judge has cleared the way for an Austintown woman accused of stabbing her young granddaughter to be forced to take medication for her psychiatric condition.
Judge Maureen A. Cronin said staff at a Cleveland-area psychiatric hospital can administer the drugs to Mildred A. Battles, but only in the smallest possible doses.
Battles, who turned 75 Sunday, is charged with the attempted murder and felonious assault of her 7-year-old granddaughter, Zabrina Battles. The girl was stabbed three times in the chest Feb. 6 at the Westchester Drive apartment she shared with her mother and Mildred Battles.
Zabrina recovered from her injuries and has been placed in foster care.
In May, Mildred Battles was found mentally incompetent to stand trial and was placed in the hospital for treatment. Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Krueger said Battles has refused to take medication prescribed by hospital staff to treat her psychosis.
"She's very delusional and paranoid," Dr. Barbara Zara said during a hearing Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. "She thinks people are after her."
What psychiatrist said
Dr. Zara is a psychiatrist who has been treating Battles at Northcoast Behavioral Health Center near Cleveland. She said medication is the best way to treat Battles' mental illness and possibly restore her to competency so she can stand trial for the charges.
But Battles' attorney, Paul Scarsella, argued that her problem could actually be dementia due to her age and not necessarily mental illness. He said the hospital should have to try other measures before being allowed to force medication on his client.
Scarsella said he is concerned that if Battles is medicated and eventually deemed competent for trial, that the side effects of the medication could cause her to appear sleepy and disinterested during courtroom proceedings. That, he said, could have a negative impact with jurors.
But Judge Cronin ruled that the benefits of medicating Battles outweigh any possible side effects. If Battles continues refusing to voluntarily take the medication, Judge Cronin said the hospital can force it on her.
Dr. Zara said the medicine would most likely be given in injections.
Judge Cronin said she will hold another hearing in four months to determine whether the medication is having an effect on Battles' condition.
If Battles is eventually tried and convicted, she could be sentenced up to 18 years in prison. If she is not restored to competency, she could be declared innocent by reason of insanity.
bjackson@vindy.com