Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Personal Injury Law Blogs -> Chicago Injury Attorney Blog

Personal Injury Law

: Chicago Injury Attorney Blog

Chicago Medical Malpractice Case Involving Fentanyl Patch Leads to $3.75 Million Cook County Wrongful Death Settlement

The family of Kerry Rupright has settled their Cook County wrongful death lawsuit against the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago for $3.75 million. The 28-year-old mother of two died a few days after she was given a fentanyl patch to treat the pain she was experiencing from the inflammation of her spinal cord. Even though the Institute has agreed to settle the Chicago medical malpractice case, it is not admitting liability and maintains that its staff appropriately handled Rupright?s medical care.

Rupright was transferred to the Institute after she was given the patch. She later became lethargic and drowsy, which are two of the possible symptoms of fentanyl poisoning. However, rather than remove the patch, staff at the Institute lowered her dosage and gave her other medications, including Ambien. Rupright?s family says the additional meds only served to aggravate her Fentanyl overdose.

Fentanyl Patch Overdose
This powerful medication is used to help relieve patients of pain. However, there have been incidents in which use of the Fentanyl patch has led to fatal overdoses, and in 2005 and in 2007, the Food and Drug Administration issued warnings about Fentanyl patches.

The warning in 2005 came after 126 deaths involving defective Fentanyl patches. The second warning in 2007 cautioned doctors against accidentally overdosing patients and the latter failing to follow proper directions on how to use the medication.

Signs of possible Fentanyl overdose:
? Breathing problems
? Drowsiness
? Seizures
? Dropping heart rate

Fentanyl is much more powerful from morphine. Use of fentanyl can come with mild side effects, such as headache, nausea, stomach pain, or constipation. Serious, life-threatening Fentanyl side effects can include:

? Liver damage
? Addiction
? Serious allergic reaction
? Respiratory depression
? Death

Duragesic Pain Patch Lawsuit Settled, Lawyers and Settlements, October 14, 2010

Experts Warn Patients About Painkiller Fentanyl, MyFoxChicago, October 12, 2010

Fentanyl Overdose Symptoms, LiveStrong

Related Web Resources:
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Medical Malpractice, Malman Law

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on October 27, 2010 (boomark / email).