When a medical emergency presents, doctors and nurses must often make life and death decisions. Years of education, training and experience help prepare doctors to make such critical decisions. In the event a doctor or nurse makes an error in judgment or fails to adequately treat a patient, severe injury or even death may result.

The parents of a man who recently died from a lethal drug interaction filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor who was entrusted with the young man's care. The man was rushed to the hospital by ambulance after suffering a methadone overdose. Attempting to reverse the ill-effects of the methadone, first responders administered the drug Narcan which is classified as an opiod antagonist.

While at the hospital, the young man was seen by a doctor who deemed him fit for discharge approximately three hours after the dose of Narcan was administered. After returning home, the man's roommate found him unconscious and not breathing. The man was rushed to the hospital, but medical personnel were not able to save his life. He died of complications stemming from multiple drug intoxication.

The man's parents recently filed a medical malpractice lawsuit in which they named the doctor who discharged their son. In the lawsuit, the parents contend the defendant was negligent in failing to admit the man to the hospital and observe him overnight to ensure no negative side-effects occurred as a result of the man having both methadone and Narcan in his system. The parents are suing on grounds of wrongful death and medical negligence.

Individuals who have suffered harm as a direct result of a medical error may choose to take legal action. In many cases, a medical malpractice lawsuit is an appropriate legal means to recover compensatory and punitive damages related to wrongful death, permanent disability and pain and suffering.

Source: The Louisiana Record, "Parents sue Louisiana doctor following son's methadone overdose," Michelle Keahey, April 19, 2013