Dilaudid Lawsuit

What is Dilaudid?

Dilaudid is the brand name for Hydromorphone, a medication used to relieve moderate to severe pain or to decrease coughing. Dilaudid comes as a tablet, liquid and an extended release pill (all forms are consumed orally). Dilaudid is available only by prescription.

Dilaudid side effects are relatively minor in nature; however, you should contact your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe or persistent:

• Lightheadedness

• Dizziness

• Drowsiness

• Nausea is a common Dilaudid side effect

• Constipation is classified as common Dilaudid side effects

• Rashes are deemed common Dilaudid side effects

• Difficulty urinating is a common Dilaudid side effect

The following are classified as severe Dilaudid side effects; these symptoms require immediate medical attention:

• Fainting

• Difficulty breathing

Dilaudid FDA Regulations:

The United States Food and Drug Administration instituted box warnings to outline the risks associated with consuming 10 mg/ml of Dilaudid. The FDA warns that Dilaudid in this capacity is intended for use only in opioid-tolerant patients. Never confuse Dilaudid-HP with standard parenteral formulations of Dilaudid or other opioids, as death and overdose could result.

A Brief Guide to Filing a Dilaudid Lawsuit:

Dilaudid lawsuits are rarely initiated against Purdue Pharma L.P. (drug's manufacturer), but instead against physicians who incorrectly administer the medication. As a result, Dilaudid lawsuits are often filed as medical negligence claims.

Several examples clarify the types of Dilaudid lawsuits that are most likely to be successful. For example, a 2005 Dilaudid lawsuit was filed by a deceased man’s family. In this Dilaudid lawsuit, the man died after being administered to a hospital for treatment for abdominal pain with severely elevated blood alcohol content. Though the guidelines regarding Dilaudid dosage specifically warn of the risk of combining the medication and alcohol, the physician in charge failed to check the man’s BAC. The Dilaudid lawsuit, therefore, found the doctor negligent and awarded the man’s family an undisclosed settlement—the jury of the Dilaudid lawsuit found that the doctor was responsible for checking the man’s BAC prior to administering the drug.

After the man was admitted, the doctor ordered nurses to monitor his blood pressure and administer the medication as appropriate. The patient was not monitored overnight for Dilaudid side effects and died as a result. The autopsy determined that the combination of alcohol and Dilaudid was the cause of death. The resulting Dilaudid lawsuit filed on behalf of the man's surviving family members resulted in a $500,000 settlement.

Another 2008 Dilaudid lawsuit concerning Dilaudid side effects further demonstrates these types of cases. This Dilaudid lawsuit involved a Connecticut nurse who was ordered to administer up to 1 mg of the drug but mistakenly administered 2 mg. The excessive Dilaudid dosage resulted in the patient's death. The reason for this mistake and attendant Dilaudid side effects was that the hospital only dispensed the drug in doses of a minimum of 2 mg.

The Supreme Court of Connecticut, in this Dilaudid lawsuit, had to decide who bore responsibility regarding this fatal Dilaudid dosage. Ultimately, the court found that the hospital was negligent in dispensing the medication, resulting in a favorable settlement for the plaintiff.

As these examples show, there are several circumstances in which someone can litigate in Dilaudid lawsuits involving mis-managed doses. If you are considering filing a Dilaudid lawsuit, you will need an experienced malpractice attorney. To enact Dialaudid lawsuits, attorneys require a copy of records concerning your response to a Dilaudid dosage.

Sources:

1. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/019034s018lbl.pdf

2. United States National Library of medicine “Hydromorphone Oral and Rectal” retrieved from:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000545/