Opioid medicines are frequently recommended to patients undergoing major surgery or those suffering from chronic pain. These drugs have sparked a major public health disaster, more commonly known as the opioid epidemic, which has taken a serious toll on the lives of everyday Texans. Addiction to opioids and overdose fatalities are on the rise across the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a prescription is involved in half of all fatal opioid overdoses. Furthermore, researchers estimate that almost 130 persons misuse or are dependent on opioids for every opioid overdose fatality.
In many situations, doctors may be held responsible for an opioid overdose, and the Houston medical malpractice attorneys at West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD are too familiar with just how devastating medical negligence can be.
The Duty of Doctors When Prescribing Opioids
Doctors and other healthcare workers are well aware of the dangers of opioids. They can be beneficial when taken in moderation and with patients who do not display any signs of addiction. However, they can also become a major problem. Medical practitioners who have the power to prescribe medications must provide competent care to their patients. When the opioid crisis initially broke out in the 1990s, certain pharmaceutical firms rewarded doctors who prescribed their narcotics to patients. Unfortunately, there is always the possibility that similar actions will be promoted in the future.
Research has found that patient mismanagement is a contributing factor in medical malpractice cases, noting that doctors frequently renew a patient’s prescription without reassessing their current condition. Medical negligence can also occur when doctors fail to adequately inform patients about alternative treatment choices.
Without first evaluating a patient, no doctor should prescribe an opioid treatment, and doing so would be a clear violation of the accepted standard of care. Before administering these addictive prescription drugs, doctors must get a complete medical history — including any history of addiction on part of the patient.
Physicians can be held liable for negligence for certain actions, such as:
- Overprescribing opioids or painkillers
- Prescribing the incorrect medication
- Failure to recognize or respond to a patient’s addiction to drugs
- Providing painkillers to a patient who has previously struggled with drug addiction
Most doctors really want to support their patients and do not intend to hurt them. However, if a doctor fails to recognize indications of addiction in a patient, refills a prescription too regularly, or prescribes opioids when they are not needed, the doctor may be held responsible. Addiction to opioids or an overdose are two possible outcomes. Opioid addiction can often lead to addiction to illicit opiate substances like heroin.
How to Prove a Doctor is Liable in Opioid Overdose Cases
If you suspect a doctor is to blame for your addiction or overdose, you must demonstrate certain things at court.
Firstly, a doctor must have an existing doctor-patient relationship with their patient before they can be made accountable.
Then it must be proven that there was a breach of conduct. If, for example, the doctor failed to provide the same degree of care as another qualified doctor with similar skill levels, the doctor may be held responsible. The patient must have suffered direct injury as a result of this error or negligence.
If you or a loved one is addicted to opioids or has died as a result of this ongoing opioid epidemic, it might be due to medical negligence. A personal injury lawyer in Houston can assist you in fighting for your rights and obtaining justice. To talk with a lawyer who can assist you in your time of need, contact West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD immediately.
Opioid Overdose Lawyers in Houston TX
Victims of opioid overdose, as well as their families, should get legal advice from a skilled personal injury firm that is familiar with the law and can assist you in pursuing legal compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit. West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD, represents the families of Texans killed by opioid addiction. Strong opioids such as fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, or methadone should only be prescribed for short-term pain relief. A Houston opioid lawsuit lawyer should be called if these medicines are given incorrectly and result in overdose or death.
Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD and Nader Rabie, JD can help you recover after being impacted by opioid addiction or overdose.
If you or a loved one has become addicted to opioids due to the negligence of a trusted physician, contact West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD right away at 713-840-7200 to discuss your case.
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