Negligent prescription of opioids

Making a compensation claim for the negligent prescription of opioids.

Opioid medications, such as morphine and codeine, are used in the management of severe pain. They can be used to help manage pain from various ailments like surgery recovery, acute injuries and cancer. However, there is an increasing concern of these medications being too readily prescribed to patients that would benefit from alternative treatment, or the lack of regular observation of those who are taking them.

The main risks of prolonged use or unnecessary use of opioids are addiction and dependence.

Therefore, it is highly important that medical professionals prescribe this type of medication with caution and carefully moderate the use of it within their patients. If they fail to do so, and as a consequence of the unnecessary or prolonged use of the drug, the patient will have to be weaned off of it. Though, it is not simply fixed with stopping the medication from being taken. The patient would likely have to slowly reduce their intake of the medication, all while enduring the withdrawal symptoms that accompany it. These can include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Muscle cramps
• Hot and cold flashes
• Watery discharge from eyes and nose

Some patients struggle with the withdrawal symptoms so much that they are unable to easily wean off the opioid due to their addiction. Others may turn to other drugs to try and replicate the feeling that the opioid gave them because they are dependant on it to function in everyday life.

It is for these reasons that prescribers must exhaust all other avenues before prescribing opioids for analgesia. If they have done so, and the patient is in a place where the prescription of opioids are suitable, they should be prescribed with the minimum effective dose for the shortest period of time. The patient should be closely monitored with planned follow-up appointments and the opioids should not be continued for longer than is necessary.