A widow recently settled a wrongful death lawsuit based on allegations of negligence in the administration of anti-anxiety medication. The medical malpractice lawsuit asserts that the man was been treated for anxiety and was prescribed a variety of medications, including lorazepam. However, after several years of usage, the clinic failed to refill the order, and failed to assist with the side effects from withdrawal, which included the risk of suicide, the lawsuit alleged.
The lawsuit further asserted that the physicians should have tapered the man off Lorazepam to reduce withdrawal symptoms, rather than an abruptly stopping, and that the failure to do so constituted negligence. It also claims the clinic failed to assess the man's mental reaction and possible addiction to the prescribed medications, and failed to seek support from mental health care professionals.
Unfortunately, prescription errors, including negligence in prescribing and supervising patients on prescription medicine is an increasingly frequent source of medical malpractice.
Too often once a doctor prescribes a medication – especially longterm prescription drugs – he or she may lose track of the patient taking the drug, and fail to sufficiently monitor that patient.
For more information, or if you believe that you or a love one suffered harm as a result of a prescription error, please contact the experienced and compassionate California medical malpractice lawyers at Bostwick Peterson, LLP for an immediate consultation.