Mental institute gets OK to drug Battles

Battles says she's healthy but needs more food.
By DEBORA SHAULIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mildred Battles, accused of stabbing her 7-year-old granddaughter two years ago, will be given anti-psychotic medication regardless of whether she wants.
Judge Maureen A. Cronin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court ruled this week that staff at Northcoast Behavioral Health Care Center in Cleveland, where Battles is a patient, can administer the drugs to Battles.
If Battles refuses to take pills, Northcoast staff will give her injections, assistant County Prosecutor Dawn Krueger told the judge.
"For what? I don't need it. I'm healthy," Battles, 76, shouted.
Atty. Louis M. DeFabio, who represents Battles, is requesting another hearing in order to cross-examine two doctors whose reports were considered by Judge Cronin. The doctors said Battles lacks the ability to give informed consent in such matters. DeFabio disagrees.
While DeFabio understands "the quandary of the court," Battles is "able to figure out the risks and benefits associated with medications," he said.
A grand jury indicted Battles on attempted murder and felonious assault charges in March 2004, one month after Austintown police said she stabbed the girl in the Westchester Drive apartment she shared with the girl and her mother.
The child, who suffered three stab wounds to her chest, recovered.
Battles was declared mentally incompetent to stand trial in May 2004 and sent to Northcoast for treatment. She can be tried if her competency is restored within 10 years of her indictment.
If Battles is convicted of the crimes, the maximum sentence is 18 years in prison. If she remains incompetent after 10 years, she may be released to a mental hospital.
Battles is "very paranoid" and has dementia, Krueger said. Battles won't let doctors check her for a brain tumor, so her competency status also affects her health, Krueger said.
Battles said she can take care of herself. The only medicine she wants to take is her blood pressure pills. "I'm not going to let no one take my health from me," she said.
Battles complained that she's not receiving enough food at Northcoast. "I need nutrition in my tissues," she told the judge.
Judge Cronin also ordered that Northcoast must submit a report after four months about any side effects Battles experiences as a result of the anti-psychotic drugs. Some elderly persons who have taken anti-psychotic drugs has experienced symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease, DeFabio said.
Judge Cronin previously ordered involuntary administration of drugs to Battles in July 2004. That order was lifted in February 2005.
shaulis@vindy.com