Opioid Overdose: Is it Connecticut Medical Malpractice?

The opioid epidemic has a strong foothold in Connecticut and the entire country. Missouri became the latest state to file a lawsuit against drug manufacturers. With 51% of opioid prescriptions going to those with depression and anxiety, a new forecast shows that 500,000 people could die from overdose in the next decade.

Drugs in the opioid family include illegal forms, like heroin, and legal forms like codeine, methadone, oxycodone (Percocet, Oxycontin, Percodan), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab, Norco), fentanyl, hydromorphone, and buprenorphine. The legal form of opioid drugs are only available through a prescription by a licenced Connecticut physician.

Opioid overdose can occur in four ways:

1. The user takes the drug recreationally;
2. The prescribing physician miscalculates the dosage for the patient;
3. A nurse administers the incorrect dosage to the patient;
4. The pharmacist dispenses the incorrect dosage to the patient.

The latter three are considered Connecticut medical malpractice when an error, like prescribing, administering, or dispensing an incorrect dosage leaves the patient with permanent injuries including death.

There is a limited window to the amount of time you have to file a medical malpractice claim in Connecticut. An experienced attorney can help you with your claim.