SBF’s Lawyers Request Access to ADHD Medication During Criminal Trial
According to a Sunday court filing, FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried is struggling to concentrate during his ongoing criminal trial due to the lack of his prescribed medication, Adderall. His attorneys have urged the court to allow access to his medication, which he usually takes throughout the day.
Bankman-Fried suffers from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and has been under psychiatric care since early 2019. His disorder is typically managed with Adderall, a prescription stimulant. However, since his trial began, he has only been able to take the drug in the early morning before being transported to court.
The defense’s letter to New York District Judge Lewis Kaplan emphasized Bankman-Fried’s struggle to stay focused during trial hours due to his lack of regular access to the medication. As the decision of whether he will testify looms, the defense fears Bankman-Fried’s inability to “meaningfully participate” in his defense due to the lack of his medication.
The letter stated that despite these circumstances, the former FTX CEO has been “doing his best to remain focused.” Yet, the defense could not guarantee that even if he gets his requested medication, the extended-release dose will necessarily be effective.
On multiple occasions, the defense tried to resolve this issue with prison officials but received no response. They have suggested an extended 12-hour dose of Adderall be given to Bankman-Fried before the trial resumes.
If this solution does not work, either due to non-provision of the extended-release dose or its ineffectiveness, the attorneys requested the court adjourn the trial for one day to find an alternative solution that would work for the remainder of the trial. As a last resort, the defense proposed a court order that would allow Bankman-Fried’s attorneys to give him Adderall at the courthouse during trial days.
Bankman-Fried’s criminal trial, which is now entering its third week, is related to the collapse of his cryptocurrency exchange FTX last year. If convicted, Bankman-Fried, who maintains his innocence, faces up to 115 years in prison.
Prior to this present predicament, Judge Kaplan had previously approved a motion on Aug. 14 allowing Bankman-Fried to access Adderall and anti-depressant medication while in prison. However, Bankman-Fried’s lawyers claimed that he had not received his medication for the subsequent 11 days following the approval.
Bankman-Fried’s need for medication was first addressed during his initial court appearance when he requested permission to apply a patch containing prescription medication that he had been devoid of since his arrest. The inability to access this prescribed medication combined with his struggle to maintain a strict vegan diet have reportedly added to his difficulties while in custody.
The recent appeal for medication access leaves Judge Kaplan with limited time to review and potentially grant the requests made on behalf of Bankman-Fried’s well-being during the trial.
