A Missouri medical malpractice lawyer notes that a jury has found a physician liable for prescribing excessive amounts addictive opioid painkillers to a patient. The plaintiff’s daily dosage was reportedly several times over the recommended limit. Affected patients injured due to the fault of a healthcare provider may be able to pursue claims for compensation with the help of a medical malpractice attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Missouri today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated Missouri medical malpractice lawyer who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Doctor Held Liable for Over-Prescribing Opioid Painkillers
A St. Louis jury awarded damages to a man whose physician over-prescribed him highly addictive opioid painkillers for several years, which allegedly adversely affected the man’s relationships and mental health. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the man was receiving an average daily dosage equivalent to 1,555 milligrams of morphine, which is 15 times over the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommended limit. Alarmingly, this dosage also could have put the man at high risk for a fatal overdose; research shows that one out of 32 patients who receive an average daily dose of over 200 milligrams die.
After the plaintiff became addicted to this excessive level of medication, he began suffering from depression and other harmful side effects. The man’s relationship with his family suffered, and he is now in the process of getting a divorce. Given these damages and the physician’s recklessness, the jury awarded the man $15 million in punitive damages. This award, which is the first of its kind, could set a precedent for more patients to hold doctors liable for excessive painkiller prescriptions or related overdoses.
How a Missouri Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help
Patients who have been injured due to the fault of a healthcare provider may be entitled to compensation. Damages may include:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Missouri. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might 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 or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
