The other shoe is finally starting to drop on the opioid crisis, but most of the public’s ire is directed at manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson and Purdue Pharma. While watching Purdue file for bankruptcy and seeing J&J pay upwards of $572 million in damages is satisfying, these lawsuits are only skimming the surface of liability for the opioid epidemic.
Key Customers
According to the lawsuit against J&J, doctors who prescribed high amounts of opioids were targeted as “key customers.” While these doctors were misled by the manufacturer and believed the risk of addiction was 2.6% or less when opioid painkillers were prescribed, they still owed a duty of care to their vulnerable patients. In the healthcare field, doctors are required to use a system of informed consent, which weighs the risk of a particular treatment with the reward.
If a patient had a family history of addiction, they should have never been prescribed opioids, even with the underplayed 2.6% risk.
If you believe you were prescribed opioids without informed consent, contact our firmtoday!
Purdue Pharma Charged as Drug Dealers
In addition to the lawsuits that inspired their bankruptcy, Purdue faces criminal charges from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). In 2007, Purdue paid $634.5 million to settle charges for claiming their opioid painkiller, OxyContin, was less addictive than other medications. Now, they are being charged under “continuing criminal enterprise” statutes, which are typically reserved for the prosecution of drug dealers. Not only did Purdue flood the market with opioids, the company also failed to report doctors who were illegally prescribing them.
While Purdue should absolutely be convicted of this crime, doctors who illegally prescribed these addictive and dangerous painkillers are just as responsible for fueling the opioid epidemic.
If you believe your prescription of opioids was illegal or otherwise mishandled, tell us your story during a confidential, free consultation.
The Road to Recovery
With the damages from lawsuits, our country is beginning to recover from the opioid epidemic on an institutional level. Still, more than 130 people die from opioid overdose every day. Recovering from this kind of loss, or even from opioid addiction, is expensive.
At the Law Offices of David C. Rash, we are dedicated to holding every person who lined their pockets with ill-earned cash while egging on the opioid crisis accountable. This includes not only manufacturers, but also negligent medical professionals.
By holding providers liable, we can help you obtain the resources to finance your individual recovery.
If you think you have a case, call our medical malpractice attorneys at (954) 914-7116 ASAP.