The opioid epidemic, spanning from St. George, Utah to the Eastern seaboard, can be linked back to unregulated prescription practices and pharmaceutical negligence. Drug injury lawsuits have paralleled opioid abuse escalation, placing liability at the feet of prescribing doctors.
From big cities to small farming towns, prescription drug abuse reaches all corners of the country. Per the St. George News, there were 502 drug deaths in Utah in 2012–323 of which were from prescription drugs. These deaths triple the number of motor vehicle deaths in the state. Southwest Utah Department of Health Public Information Officer David Heaton told the St. George News that 90 percent of all prescription drug overdose deaths happen in the addict’s home.
The sad reality of opioid addiction is that, more often than not, the addict began his or her use for medical reasons. Opioids are prescribed like candy: for injury, surgery recovery and even for simple toothaches. Physicians prescribe doses higher than what is sufficient and supply unnecessary refills.
The rise in opioid addiction and drug injury has led to an increase in both civil and criminal litigation against prescribing doctors. Christopher E. Brown, a Florida lawyer, explained to amednew.com, “When a patient suffers an injury as a result of a prescribed medication, questions will always arise as to whether the medications were needed, whether a proper history and physical examination was conducted, or whether the physician properly documented the encounter… any failure on the part of the physician can open him [or] her up to liability.”
Drug injury lawsuits against doctors have been largely successful around the country. Amednews.com reported a lawyer representing an Alabama widower argued in a 2012 lawsuit that his wife’s family physician was liable for her accidental overdose. He was awarded $500,000. Another plaintiff was awarded $1.9 million in 2012 after her lawyer successfully sued her doctor.
Despite courtroom successes, many drug injury victims who retain a lawyer end up settling out of court. The medical community has become inundated with lawsuits over drug injuries and has found that it is more time and cost effective to simply settle.
While victims’ families and physicians battle over lawsuits, lawmakers are battling in Congress to pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2015. The St. George News reported, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes and attorneys general from 36 other states are urging Congress to pass the bill— in hopes that it will make a dent in the devastating opioid addiction epidemic.
While well intended, many fear the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act may be too little, too late.
Alex Kirkwood is a legal writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Robert J Debry. Follow on Twitter
From big cities to small farming towns, prescription drug abuse reaches all corners of the country. Per the St. George News, there were 502 drug deaths in Utah in 2012–323 of which were from prescription drugs. These deaths triple the number of motor vehicle deaths in the state. Southwest Utah Department of Health Public Information Officer David Heaton told the St. George News that 90 percent of all prescription drug overdose deaths happen in the addict’s home.
The sad reality of opioid addiction is that, more often than not, the addict began his or her use for medical reasons. Opioids are prescribed like candy: for injury, surgery recovery and even for simple toothaches. Physicians prescribe doses higher than what is sufficient and supply unnecessary refills.
The rise in opioid addiction and drug injury has led to an increase in both civil and criminal litigation against prescribing doctors. Christopher E. Brown, a Florida lawyer, explained to amednew.com, “When a patient suffers an injury as a result of a prescribed medication, questions will always arise as to whether the medications were needed, whether a proper history and physical examination was conducted, or whether the physician properly documented the encounter… any failure on the part of the physician can open him [or] her up to liability.”
Drug injury lawsuits against doctors have been largely successful around the country. Amednews.com reported a lawyer representing an Alabama widower argued in a 2012 lawsuit that his wife’s family physician was liable for her accidental overdose. He was awarded $500,000. Another plaintiff was awarded $1.9 million in 2012 after her lawyer successfully sued her doctor.
Despite courtroom successes, many drug injury victims who retain a lawyer end up settling out of court. The medical community has become inundated with lawsuits over drug injuries and has found that it is more time and cost effective to simply settle.
While victims’ families and physicians battle over lawsuits, lawmakers are battling in Congress to pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2015. The St. George News reported, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes and attorneys general from 36 other states are urging Congress to pass the bill— in hopes that it will make a dent in the devastating opioid addiction epidemic.
While well intended, many fear the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act may be too little, too late.
Alex Kirkwood is a legal writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Robert J Debry. Follow on Twitter