A Dilaudid lawsuit attorney notes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that each year, over one-quarter of women in the U.S. (of childbearing age 15-44) use opioid medications, such as Dilaudid, that may have severe adverse effects on the mother and her child. Affected women may be able to pursue claims for compensation with the help of Dilaudid lawsuit attorneys.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for more information. We offer free, no-obligation consultations and can inform you of your options. If you decide to pursue a claim, we can connect you with an affiliated Dilaudid lawsuit attorney.
Important: The time you have to pursue a claim is limited. Contact us for more information.
CDC: 15 Million U.S. Women Take Opioids That May Involve Pregnancy Risks
Dilaudid is the brand name of the drug hydromorphone and is in a class of drugs called opiate analgesics. It works by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1984, the drug is widely prescribed and highly addictive. A wide-scale analysis from the CDC suggests that many women in the U.S. may unknowingly be taking prescribed opioid painkillers such as Dilaudid while pregnant, that may result in serious birth defects. According to NBC News, the CDC has found that more than one in four women between ages 15 and 44 take prescribed opioid painkillers each year.
The FDA advises that pregnant and nursing mothers not take Dilaudid unless the patient benefits outweigh the risks. Opioid painkillers may cause various complications during pregnancy. Women are given opioid painkillers later in their pregnancies, their babies may suffer from harmful withdrawal symptoms, such as breathing problems and seizures according to the National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.
The CDC reports that from 2008 to 2012, 28 percent of women with private healthcare filled opioid medication prescriptions, as did 39 percent of female Medicare patients. These figures, which don’t include emergency room treatment, might even underrepresent the use of these drugs. Together, these findings suggest that opioid-related birth defects may be a risk in many pregnancies, the website reported.
When a patient suffers severe side effects after taking Dilaudid, the patient or family members should consider speaking with a Dilaudid lawsuit attorney.
How a Dilaudid Lawsuit Attorney Can Help
Drug manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products are accompanied by full and accurate instructions and warnings to guide prescribing doctors and other health care providers in making treatment decisions. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
Patients who are injured by Dilaudid may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If a patient dies from complications after taking Dilaudid, his or her family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
Affected families are encouraged to speak with a Dilaudid lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
Contact Us For More Information
If you or a loved one took Dilaudid, contact Attorney Group for more information. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you may have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group.
