Dangers of the Fentanyl Patch Increase with Doctor and Hospital Negligence

When you are in pain and visit the hospital or doctor more than likely you trust their medical knowledge enough to think that what they are administering to you is what is needed.  Most of the time hospitals and doctors do administer the right medicine and do the correct procedure that is necessary for your visit or emergency but in some circumstances a hospital, doctor or even a nurse make mistakes that can be fatal such as in a the recent case of the death of Michael Blankenship which was alledged to be caused by an improperly adminstered drug. 

Michael Blankenship, a 15 year old autistic teen, was found dead in his bedroom the morning after a routine visit to the Seattle Children's Hospital for a dental procedure.  The hospital administered the potentially fatal drug Fentanyl in the form of a patch to Blankenship for the dental procedure.  Fentanyl is a strong narcotic drug for patients, such as those who have cancer, who have built up a resistance to opium based drugs due to constant use for pain. 

The Fentanyl patch is given to patients to subside pain but is only recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used on patients who have already built up a resistance to other opium based narcotic drugs.  Administering Fentanyl to patients who have not built up a resistance to other opium based pain-killers, such as Michael Blankenship, can cause a severe reaction such as trouble breathing or can even be fatal enough to cause death.  Because Blankenship was adminstered Fentanyl and his body was not used to the drug it is alledged that he suffered the most severe reaction which was death.  The hospital is being faced with a lawsuit for negligence in giving the teenage boy the drug for such a simple procedure.  Chris Davis, the injury attorney handling Michael Blankenship's case, said "First, he never should have been given (the fentanyl patch). Second, he was given the highest dose available".  

A study done by the FDA in 2005 showed that over 120 people had died due to the Fentanyl patch.  Sadly, most of the deaths were caused by improper use by patients and by hospitals and doctors administering the Fentanyl patch in situations that were not necessary.  The FDA issued another warning in 2007 because of the continued misuse of the Fentanyl patch by doctors and hospital.  They have even received reports or some doctors prescribing the Fentanyl patch for headaches or post surgical pain.  When the FDA issued their second warning about the Fentanyl patch they put together a list of guidelines for safety when using the patch:

• Fentanyl patches can cause severe trouble breathing. Get emergency help if you have trouble breathing or extreme drowsiness with slowed breathing; feel faint, dizzy, confused; or have other unusual symptoms. They can be signs that you were prescribed too high a dose or took too much.
• Fentanyl patches are only for round-the-clock pain that is moderate to severe and expected to last for weeks. They are not for sudden, occasional or mild pain, or pain after surgery.
• The patches should not be your first narcotic painkiller.
• Ask your doctor how often to apply the patch, whether to reapply one that has fallen off and how to replace it. Doing any of that wrong can cause an accidental overdose.
• Do not use heating pads, electric blankets, saunas or heated waterbeds, take very hot baths or sunbathe while wearing a fentanyl patch. Heat may increase the drug's absorption, causing a life-threatening overdose. Call a doctor right away if body temperature becomes higher than 102 degrees while wearing a patch.

Although the number of people who are administered Fentanyl accidently or are administered the drug when it is not necessary are few, it is still too many.  In situations where hospitals or doctors are negligent and cause injury or death to a patient it is the hospital or doctor that are ultimately held responsible for their malpractice.