Duragesic and Fentanyl

If you have been seriously injured after use of the Duragesic skin patch or a generic fentanyl skin patch used for pain, you may have a Duragesic/fentanyl lawsuit. If a family member has died after using the Duragesic patch or a generic fentanyl product, you may have a wrongful death lawsuit. To contact a lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form.

Injury or death associated with fentanyl may give rise to a medical malpractice claim based on medication error (see below) and/or a product liability claim (see fentanyl recall information).

Duragesic-Fentanyl Medication Error Lawsuit

In July of 2005, the FDA issued a health advisory informing health professionals that it was investigating reports of death and other serious side effects from overdoses of fentanyl in patients using fentanyl transdermal (skin) patches for pain control. The advisory was prompted by deaths and overdoses that had occurred in patients using both the brand name product Duragesic and the generic product (there was only one generic product at the time, but there are now several, including one approved in August of 2007).

The FDA advisory informed health professionals that the directions for using the fentanyl skin patch should be followed exactly to prevent death or other serious side effects from overdosing with fentanyl. These directions were made available to health professionals.

Although it has been 2 years since the FDA advisory, some incidences of medication error involving the Duragesic skin patch and generic fentanyl skin patches are still occurring.

If any of the following applies to your use or a family member's use of Duragesic or a generic product, please contact a lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A.:

Prescription of the Duragesic pain patch or generic pain patch for short-term pain, pain that was not constant, or pain after an operation. According to the FDA advisory, fentanyl skin patches should only be used by patients who are already taking other narcotic painkillers (opioid tolerant), and who have chronic pain that is not well controlled with shorter-acting painkillers.
Prescription of the Duragesic patch or a generic pain patch without consideration of other medications the patient may have been on. The Duragesic and generic pain patches should not be used with other medicines that affect brain function or that affect how fentanyl is broken down in the body.
Prescription of the Duragesic patch or a generic fentanyl skin patch without warning the patient of the dangerous nature of the medication. According to the FDA advisory, "Patients who are using the fentanyl skin patch and their caregivers should be told about the directions for safe use of the patch and should follow the directions exactly." for example, patients should know that heat can adversly react with the fentanyl, and sunbathing, exercise, hot tubs, even a hot shower can trigger an overdose.

Free Case Consultation

We are Not Paid Unless You Win

Our attorneys work on a continguency fee basis, meaning you do not have to pay our law firm for representing you unless we win you money.

Firm News

AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell

Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman have been given the highest rating by Martindale-Hubbell for attorney, AV Preeminent. An AV® certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.

Adjunct Teaching Position At U of M Law School

Attorney Brendan Flaherty has accepted an adjunct teaching position at the University of Minnesota Law School. For the 2011 spring semester, Flaherty will teach a course entitled "Practice and Professionalism," which will introduce students to foundational lawyering skills and professional responsibility issues.

Attorney Elliot Olsen Speaks at Conference

Attorney Elliot Olsen recently spoke at the Seventh Annual LifeScience Alley Conference in Minneapolis on Preemption and the Future of Medical Device Litigation. He appeared with Randall Pattee of Lindquist and Vennum and Jean Lance, VP of corporate legal and general counsel for Boston Scientific.

Named Super Lawyer

In recognition of their achievements, Attorneys Fred Pritzker, Elliot Olsen and Eric Hageman were named "Super Lawyers" by Law & Politics magazine. According to Super Lawyers, "The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource to assist attorneys and consumers in the search for legal counsel."

Brendan Flaherty Named a Rising Star

In recognition of his achievements, Attorney Brendan Flaherty was named a 2010 Rising Star by Minnesota Law & Politics. Only 2.5 percent of the state’s lawyers are included on the list, which highlights Minnesota’s best up-and-coming legal talent.

Fred Pritzker Listed in The Best Lawyers in America

Fred Pritzker has been notified that he will again be listed in The Best Lawyers in America for his work in personal injury litigation.

This is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The result of each case is determined by the specific facts and the applicable law.