Chemically Castrated Predator Seeks Use of Viagra
Originally published by The Associated Press, August 5, 2002
A chemically castrated sex predator who hopes to have sex with his wife has asked a judge for permission to take Viagra.
Donald Henrickson's doctors support his request, saying it would be therapeutic for him to form an appropriate sexual relationship. But the King County Prosecutor's Office and the state Department of Corrections oppose it, saying the drug could foster violent sexual urges.
Henrickson, 53, of Olalla in Kitsap County, has sex crime convictions dating to 1973, including offenses in King and Pierce counties. He has confessed to molesting more than 30 girls.
After serving time in the state's sex predator program, he was released in 1999 under a slew of conditions—including that he receive monthly injections of Depo-Lupron, a drug that reduces testosterone production and inhibits sexual function.
Doctors have tried reducing his dosage to help him have sex with his wife, but that didn't work. So now they propose letting her administer eight Viagra tablets a month, without taking him off the Depo-Lupron.
He would not be allowed to leave his house for 10 hours after taking a pill, and after about a month of taking the pills he would have to submit to a polygraph test about his reaction to them.
His doctors include David Yanisch, a forensic services manager at the Special Commitment Center, and state psychiatrist Mark McClung.
The request, however, was a surprise to Steve Williams, spokesman for the Department of Social and Health Services, which runs the sex predator program.
The Special Commitment Center will begin reviewing the recommendation this morning, Williams told The News Tribune of Tacoma, "first thing."
McClung said he doesn't expect Viagra to increase Henrickson's deviant sexual urges, but simply to improve his ability to have an erection.
But others disagreed with that assessment, calling such treatment "potentially risky."
Prosecutors consulted Douglas E. Tucker, a psychiatrist from Berkeley, Calif., about the matter. Tucker told them in a letter that he wasn't aware of any medical literature on the safety of mixing Viagra and Depo-Lupron.
Furthermore, he noted Henrickson's history of failed treatment and dishonesty with the people who treat him.
"It would seem inappropriate to experiment on potentially risky treatment strategies with him," Tucker wrote.
King County Deputy Prosecutor David Hackett agreed.
"If you're going to experiment with two drugs that have opposite effects, it's not a good idea to do that on someone as dangerous as Mr. Henrickson," he said.
If the request is approved, the state would pay for the Viagra, which costs about $10 per pill.
