Accidental Prescription Drug Overdose
Accidental prescription drug overdoses have become a serious national problem. A study by the FDA found that prescription dosing mistakes resulted in more than 40% of fatalities resulting from medication errors.
Here in North Carolina, we have a higher than average rate of prescription overdose deaths. Some North Carolina counties have seen death rates that are among the worst in the country. According to the most recent federal government research, overdoses killed as many as 16 people per 100,000 residents in North Carolina—a number that continues to increase in our state.
Too often, physicians are part of the problem.
Physicians have a duty to fully understand the pharmaceuticals they prescribe to their patients. This includes knowing a prescription drug’s intended use, its side effects, its interactions with other drugs, and safe and recommended dosing. Your doctor also has the responsibility to know how the medication will act in your body, how it accumulates, and how it’s eliminated from the body. In addition, medical professionals should make sure that you have no known drug allergies that might affect the use of specific drugs.
All it takes is an inaccurate prescription.
Unfortunately, doctors sometimes prescribe the wrong medication, or prescribe a drug that interacts with another prescription, or prescribe the wrong dose. When this occurs, a patient can have any number of serious problems, including neurological damage, heart damage, and even death.
In addition, doctors may rely on inaccurate information from the pharmaceutical manufacturer when they prescribe these drugs. As a result, a drug company may also be at fault for injuries suffered from an accidental prescription drug overdose.
Opioid painkillers can kill more than just the pain.
The prescribing and use of painkillers have led to many accidental prescription drug overdoses. Some of the most common opioid painkillers are:
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
- Oxycodone (Percocet, OxyContin)
- Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
- Fentanyl (Duragesic)
- Methadone (Dolophine), and
- Morphine (MS Contin).
These opioid drugs killed more people in the state of North Carolina than alcohol, cocaine, and heroin combined. Drug overdoses result in more deaths in North Carolina than car accidents or firearms. Almost all of these deaths involve prescription opioid painkillers.
If an accidental drug tragedy has devastated your family, we can help.
If your family member was injured or died because of an accidental prescription drug overdose due to medical negligence in prescribing, the Deuterman Law Group can help. We’ll pursue your claim against a physician, pharmacy, hospital, or clinic that prescribed, or fulfilled, the dangerous drugs irresponsibly. You may be eligible for compensation for your injuries.
The Advantage of Working with the Deuterman Law Group
In addition to our prescription drug overdose knowledge and experience, we put our integrity, values, and passion for justice into every case. Here’s how:
Our People
A law firm is only as good as its people, and our attorneys, paralegals and office staff are the best. As you’ll see, everyone works hard to make you feel at home and well cared for. You’ll always be treated with dignity and respect.
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Our clients often tell us that we’re not what they expected from a law firm, and they mean it as a compliment. They’re consistently amazed that our people care about them, that we take the time to listen, and that we provide top-notch customer service. These compliments keep us motivated and working hard for our clients.
Learn more about accidental prescription drug overdose
Knowledge is power, and you’ll find answers to many of your prescription overdose questions right here in this section of our website. We’re committed to sharing information that will help with your claim, and we’re always glad to explain any details that aren’t immediately clear.
Contact us today to learn how our law firm has successfully represented patients and their families in cases of accidental prescription drug overdose injuries and deaths. We’ll help you obtain the full compensation you or your loved one deserves.