DISCLAIMER: Please note that every case is different and these verdicts and settlements, while accurate, do not represent what we may obtain for you in your case.

Doctor over prescribes Vicodin, Norco, Lorazepam

   This medical malpractice lawsuit involved the death of a 27 year old young man.  On the morning of October 19, 2006, the young man (C.) was found dead as a result of an apparent overdose of prescription medications.  Oxycodone and Benzodiazines were detected by the toxicology analysis done in conjunction with a San Bernardino County Coroner autopsy. 
   The toxicology report found evidence of Oxycodone, Benzodiazepines and cannabinoids in C.’s blood and found 21 milligrams of Oxycodone in the gastric region.  Cause of death was determined to be an accidental overdose on prescription medications.  The Defendant Dr. where C. had been receiving pain killers for years, denied liability because he never prescribed Oxycodone to the decedent.  While it was acknowledged that there are no records of Dr. prescribing Oxycodone, what was clear was that the Dr. over prescribed opiates in the form of Vicodine and Norco for many years to C. and provided additional prescriptions to C. through third parties until C. was so addicted to pain killers that C. began obtaining additional and stronger pain killers from other sources and secured additional Benzodiasepines from the Dr.
   The Dr. knew C. was obtaining Oxycontin and Norco from third party sources. Regardless, the day before C.’s death, Dr. prescribed Clonidine, Xanax and Lexapro.  C. filled only the prescription for the Xanax (Alprazolam) on that day, but did not fill the other prescriptions.  Alprazolam is known to enhance the effect of Oxycontin, an opiate painkiller, on the individual taking both these drugs.  The cocktail combination of these drugs are known to be potentially fatal.  C. died from the combination of these drugs.
   Plaintiff contended that Dr. committed medical malpractice by over prescribing pain medications until a serious addiction had formed that drove the decedent to seek out stronger and more pain medications, as well as ways to enhance the effect of those drugs.
    As a separate note, the Dr. was criminally convicted in Federal Court for dispensing controlled substances without a proper purpose and lost his license to practice medicine.
    The matter resolved at mediation and the settlement amount was deemed confidential.

Awarded: Confidential

The Inland Empire Law Group is located in Rancho Cucamonga, California and serves clients in San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and Los Angeles County as well as the following cities: Rancho Cucamonga, Alta Loma, Etiwanda, Fontana, Ontario, Upland, Montclair, Rialto, Victorville, Colton, Norco, San Bernardino, Riverside, Yucipa, Redlands, Bloomington, Chino, Chino Hills, Apple Valley, Hesperia, Adelanto, Barstow, Pomona, Claremont, La Verne, and San Dimas, Glendora, Diamond Bar, Corona, Grand Terrace, Highland, Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, Wrightwood, and Moreno Valley.

Inland Empire
Law Group
8600 Utica Avenue
Suite 200
Rancho Cucamonga,
California 91730

(909) 481-0100

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