One of the leading forms of Medical Malpractice is prescribing pain management medication that causes life threatening overdoses and addictions. Mis-prescribing or overdosing patients has lead to serious addiction problems and even death. From 1999 through 2014, there have been up to 165,000 deaths due to prescription overdose of opioid medications. Kajioka & Associates Attorneys At Law would like to share how patients have become a victim of malpractice and if you need to seek help from a personal injury attorney.
Opioid Overdose Epidemic
Some of the most frequently prescribed opioid medications are Hydrocodone, Methadone, and Oxycodone which helps manage pain. These opioids are often used by dental offices, after surgical procedures, and by pain management professionals. Some effects of this medication can lead to respiratory depression, vomiting, and nausea. Although opioids greatly reduce pain and helps millions of people deal with chronic pain, it has an unfortunate side effect: addiction. About one in every four people can become addicted to opioids. Addictions can come on quickly or after long periods of use. It is estimated that thousands of people nationwide are received in the emergency room each year due to an opioid related overdosing. In many of these situations lives were threatened and over half of the patients required hospitalization. Currently there are an estimated 2 million Americans who either abuse or have become dependent on opioid prescription-based medications. Not only does opioid medication help manage pain, they can also give one a sense euphoria and sedation. The longer a patient is on an opioid, the more they will need to take to reach that euphoric high. Once patients begin taking more of the drug, it easily leads to overdosing which cause addictions and death. There was one local event here in Nevada where a young boy was prescribed Oxycodone. Over a short period of time the doctor continued to increase the boy’s dosage of Oxycodone. Eventually the boy became addicted and died. The parents sued the doctor and later learned this doctor was operating a pill mill and distributed his own prescription medications even to some patients that didn’t require prescriptions of this type. This doctor was acting as a glorified drug dealer, creating addiction in his patients just to increase financial gain.
Doctors Over Prescribing Narcotics & Prescription Drugs
This form of malpractice isn’t foreign to lawyers who receive opioid related cases every year. Unfortunately Las Vegas is rated the fourth highest city for cases of prescription drug overdoses in America. Opioid addiction is equal to that of heroin addiction and has become a problem for many Americans. For those who are prescribed an opioid such as Hydrocodone, Methadone, and Oxycodone, use the medication cautiously and avoid situations where addiction can develop. If you feel as if you’re becoming addicted or you want to avoid the effects, request a new form of pain management. If your doctor urges or persuades you to continue using the medication, and addictions or health related problems due to the drugs have affected you, you may be a victim of malpractice.
Medical Malpractice, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, Business Attorneys & More in Greater Las Vegas, Nevada
If you or a family member became a victim of prescription overdosing where addiction, death, financial loss, hardship, or have had your quality of life reduced, and feel as if you’re a victim of malpractice, contact Kajioka & Associates Attorneys At Law today.
