Medical Negligence in Addiction and Overdose Cases
Despite 35 years of representing victims of medical malpractice, negligence and preventable injuries and deaths, I still need to stop and catch my breath from time to time. As our world changes, so too does medical intervention and negligence that can result from faulty medical care In a recent local case, an addiction and subsequent overdose due to medical negligence, was named as the leading factor in the death of a 55 year Northeast Ohio man.
In 2010, by all accounts, 50 year old Bret Moyers was a healthy man. 5 years later, Mr. Moyers was dead and his family suffered an unimaginable tragedy. After an injury at work, Mr. Moyers was prescribed and treated with heavy pain medication, and eventually an accidental overdose led to his death at the young age of 55.
The first aspect of this tragedy was that Mr. Moyers was injured at work. The second aspect was that he was a victim of negligent medical care for failure to manage his condition properly; ultimately leading to his death.
Proving Medical Negligence or Malpractice
Headlines across the country are riddled with the tragic stories of addiction, and many believe that the drug manufacturers are truly to blame. Furthermore, hospital quality scores and physician ratings are often tied to pain management success, and many medical professionals claim they are in an impossible position. The drug manufacturers want their drugs prescribed, and the hospital ratings from patients who want and/or need the drugs also support handing out opioids and other heavy pain medications.
In the Moyers’ case, the estate and family of Mr. Moyers alleges medical negligence as a result of addictive medications readily and continually prescribed without proper patient evaluation. They further ascertain that the individual responsible for writing the prescriptions was inexperienced in pain management of this nature.
Lake Health is named in the suit, as well as the independent medical practitioner. The suit alleges that as a whole, Lake Health failed to outline and adhere to the proper administration and monitoring of addictive pain medications, all while Ohio was/is going through one of the worst addiction and overdose trends the country has seen.
Only time will tell how Mr. Moyers’ estate and subsequent case will result, but I anticipate a large shift in cases of this nature. At what point do we need to hold the medical professionals responsible for wielding the pen and pad without regard?
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or tragic death, contact my offices immediately. As your Ohio medical malpractice attorney, I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For over four decades, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus, Dayton and neighboring communities. You can reach Tim by email at misnylaw.com/ask-tim-a-question/ or call at 877.944.4373.
