Medications have become so common in our society that many patients take what is prescribed to them without much thought. In most cases, the results are positive as doctors have relied on their education, training and expertise to prescribe appropriate, effective drugs in the correct dosages. Sometimes, though, doctors make medication errors that can cause severe adverse effects and even death.
One family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a doctor after he allegedly over-prescribed painkillers to woman who subsequently overdosed on them. Reports allege the doctor prescribed the victim 600 pills, which she took at her doctors bidding. The attorney for the family said a system error may have caused the mistake. Sadly, this is not the first fatal incident allegedly caused by the doctor. In fact, he now faces 81 felony counts related to overdoses that killed nine of his patients.
Regardless of what causes a medical error like this, medical professionals and the hospitals at which they work should take care to double-check prescriptions and their dosages to ensure they are accurate. When failing to do so leads to death, a victim’s surviving family may be left with an emotional hole in their lives, which may be further exacerbated by financial losses due to medical expenses, funeral costs and lost wages.
An Oregon attorney can help these families hold negligent professionals accountable for their medical mistakes. If a family can successfully show a doctor or hospital deviated from its standard of care and the breach of that duty caused the victim’s death, then compensation may be recovered. An attorney can use physical evidence, witness and expert testimony and legal strategy to establish the necessary legal elements to the best of his or her ability.
The unexpected loss of a loved one can throw a family into a time of grief and turmoil. When sadness paralyzes families, an attorney can step in and provide them with the legal assistance they need.
Source: 9 News, “Metro Doctor Accused of 9 Patient Deaths Faces Malpractice Lawsuit,” Evan Anderson, March 3, 2014