Ohio Dilaudid Administration Lawyers
Strong advocacy for improper opioid prescriptions and treatment in Ohio
Dilaudid is an opioid used to manage pain. Doctors, pharmacists, and healthcare should understand the dangers of opioid use, including their addictive qualities. At Crandall & Pera Law, we hold medical providers responsible for failing to follow competent medical standards. Our Ohio Dilaudid administration lawyers are skilled at showing why your doctor committed medical malpractice and why your doctor should be held accountable. We represent both patients who survive pain medication overdoses and disorders – and the families of loved ones who tragically died due to improper Dilaudid administration. We demand compensation for all your financial and personal damages. Call us today to discuss your rights.
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Table of Contents
- What is Dilaudid?
- Why is Dilaudid dangerous?
- What are the signs and symptoms of a Dilaudid disorder in Ohio?
- What is the treatment for Dilaudid addiction in Ohio?
- Who is responsible for improper Dilaudid administration in Ohio?
- Why should doctors be held accountable for Dilaudid disorders or addiction?
- Do you have an Ohio lawyer near me who can handle my Dilaudid disorder case?
What is Dilaudid?
According to American Addiction Centers, Dilaudid is a “semi-synthetic opioid analgesic prescribed to provide relief from severe pain.” “As an opioid, it interacts with opioid receptors in the brain and influences the body’s perception of pain.” Dilaudid is the brand name for hydromorphone.
Why is Dilaudid dangerous?
Some of the side effects of Dilaudid include dizziness, sedation, vomiting, nausea, sweating, euphoria, dysphoria, itching, and dry mouth.
The improper administration or use of Dilaudid can cause addiction and “severe respiratory depression (slowed or stopped breathing).” Even when this drug is taken as directed under a physician’s supervision, it can cause “tolerance and physiological dependence.”
- “Tolerance occurs when an individual’s body adapts to having the drug present and requires higher or more frequent doses to feel the same effects the drug had previously produced.”
- “Physiological dependence means that because of regular use, the body has become so used to having hydromorphone in its system that abrupt discontinuation of the drug or significant reduction in dose results in withdrawal symptoms.”
Another danger of Dilaudid/Hydromorphone use includes mixing the drug with alcohol, sleep aids (like Ambien or Lunesta), and other opioids or drugs, including benzodiazepines and barbiturates. Mixing these substances can even lead to fatal overdoses. According to American Addiction Centers, in 2020, 44 people died every day in the US from prescription opioid overdoses.
Doctors and pharmacists who prescribe Dilaudid should advise patients about the dangers of misusing the drug. Misuse of Dilaudid includes:
- Taking Dilaudid without a prescription
- Taking a higher dose than the prescription amount
- Not using the medication properly - such as crushing the tables or breaking the capsules open to “snort the powder or dissolve it in water and inject it into the vein.”
- Obtaining multiple opioid prescriptions by shopping for different doctors
What are the signs and symptoms of Dilaudid addiction in Ohio?
Doctors should suspect and diagnose Dailudid disorders if a patient:
- Takes the drug in larger amounts and over a longer time than prescribed.
- Has unsuccessful attempts to stop hydromorphone use.
- Craves the drug.
- “Spends a lot of time acquiring, using, or recovering from the effects of hydromorphone.”
- Is not able to complete their home, work, or school activities because of drug use.
- Gives up on activities the patient used to enjoy.
- Uses Dilaudid while driving or even when there are mental health or physical health problems.
Doctors should evaluate these conditions depending on whether the patient is taking the medications as prescribed and as directed.
Those patients who meet at least two of the above criteria within a 12-month period qualify for an opioid use disorder diagnosis.
Symptoms of a hydromorphone (or other opioid) overdose include deep sedation, slow or stopped breathing, vomiting, gurgling noises, a limp body, clammy, pale skin, purple or blue lips or fingernails, and pinpoint pupils.
What is the treatment for Dilaudid addiction in Ohio?
Treatment for Dilaudid addiction usually involves immediate emergency room care followed up with long-term inpatient or outpatient care. This treatment usually involves medically supervised detox, medications, and behavioral therapy.
FWho is responsible for improper Dilaudid administration in Ohio?
At Crandall & Pera, our medical malpractice lawyers work with medical professionals who understand the proper laws, medical protocols, standards, and procedures - at the federal, Ohio, and local levels – for the proper prescription and administration of opioids and other controlled substances. Our Ohio Dilaudid administration lawyers file personal injury and wrongful death claims against all responsible healthcare providers, including:
- The drug companies that manufacture Dilaudid and other opioid medications
- Family doctors
- Pain medication doctors
- ER doctors
- Pharmacists
- Hospitals
For patients, we file personal injury actions. In these actions, we demand compensation for all your medical bills, including physical and psychological care, medications, pain and suffering, loss of income, and other damages.
If a loved one tragically overdoses due to medical malpractice, we file wrongful death actions on behalf of the family members. We demand compensation for the funeral and burial expenses, the loss of financial support your loved one would have provided, and the loss of guidance, love, and companionship your loved one would have provided. We also file survival actions for your loved one’s pain and suffering and other pre-death damages.
Why should doctors be held accountable for Dilaudid disorders or addiction?
There are specific laws that regulate opioid medications. There are also medical standards that regulate opioid medications. In addition, doctors who prescribe pain medications are required to follow the standards for their type of medical practice.
At Crandall & Pera Law, we file medical malpractice claims when practitioners fail to follow these laws, regulations, and standards, including failing to:
- Fully review the patient’s prior medical history, including the other doctors currently treating the patient and all the medications the patient is taking
- Review alternatives to prescription medications
- Monitor the use and effectiveness of the medications
- Limit the dosages and length of use of opioid medications
- Explain to patients the known risks of using Dilaudid and other opioid medications
We also file product liability claims against drug manufacturers for failing to comply with federal laws and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines and for making defective products/drugs.
Do you have an Ohio lawyer near me who can handle my Dilaudid disorder case?
Crandall & Pera Law represents patients who suffer injuries due to Dilaudid disorders in Ohio from our office at 850 Euclid Ave #1122, Cleveland, OH 44114. Our firm also maintains locations in Cincinnati, Columbus, Chesterland and Chagrin Falls. We also represent families if their loved one dies because of Dilaudid. If your injuries prevent you from coming to our office, we will see you away from the office. We can also review your claim by phone and through video conversations.
We understand how anxious and upset you are. We’re prepared to fight for all the compensation you deserve.
Get help by calling our Ohio medical malpractice lawyers today
Healthcare providers must understand the dangers of opioids such as Dilaudid. Improper use of opioids can cause addiction, overdoses, and fatalities. At Crandall & Pera Law, our attorneys have more than 50 years of combined experience fighting for patients and families. We’re skilled at holding doctors and other healthcare providers accountable for medical malpractice. Call our Ohio medical malpractice attorneys now or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.