Substance Use and Medical Malpractice

Although the rate of illegal drug use is lower among doctors than among the general public, the rate of prescription drug abuse is five times higher. The reasoning is simple enough: a physician has easy access to prescription drugs, many of which are severely addictive. The risk of medical malpractice significantly increases when we trust our lives – and the lives of our loved ones – to addicted doctors.

Beyond writing their own prescriptions for painkillers and other narcotics, some doctors use these substances while on the job, despite the well-known side effects that can seriously compromise the safe treatment of patients. Meanwhile, nurses and other healthcare professionals have also been caught abusing prescription drugs while on call, and may even steal medication from a patient who needs it.

Doctors who treat patients while under the influence are subject to cloudy thinking and poor judgment. They can easily overlook a diagnosis, misdiagnose a dangerous condition, or make a medical mistake that causes harm to a patient.

If you or a loved one has suffered because of a doctor’s substance abuse, please contact our experienced Sarasota medical malpractice lawyers at the Luhrsen Law Group today for a free case evaluation. We can help you pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.