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John E. Rennie v. Ann Klein (Rennie II)
United States District Court for New Jersey
476 F. Supp. 1294 (1979)
Facts
A class-action suit seeking injunctive relief was filed by John E. Rennie (plaintiff) on behalf of patients committed at five New Jersey mental hospitals. Rennie sought an injunction against Ann Klein (defendant), commissioner of the Department of Human Services, for forcibly medicating patients. The hospitals housed thousands of patients, had inadequate staffing, and a large majority of patients were involuntarily treated with antipsychotic medication when not medically appropriate. Although the hospital had procedures that had to be followed before forcibly medicating patients, including informing them about risks, review by the treating team, and in some cases review by the medical director, the procedure was limited and inconsistently applied. The department failed to properly record refusals, monitor and record severe side effects, adequately inform patients of their right to refuse medication, and few refusals were ever reviewed by the medical director.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Brotman, J.)
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