Family of autistic boy files lawsuit of fentanyl overdose death
A Washington family has filed a lawsuit alleging that a fentanyl pain patch overdose caused the death of their 15-year-old son. Michael Blankenship died in his sleep in March 2009 after using a fentanyl pain patch prescribed to treat routine pain following dental surgery.
According to the lawsuit filed by an attorney for the family, Blankenship—who was autistic—was prescribed a fentanyl patch after he refused to take pain pills after having some of his teeth removed. Because fentanyl is about 80-time more potent than morphine, its warning label directs physicians not to prescribe the patch to patients unless they have been taking pain medications for an extended period of time.
Blankenship suffered a fentanyl overdose after he was prescribed the pain patch, and died in his sleep. The Seattle Children’s hospital—where Blankenship was treated prior to his death—has apologized to his family for the mistake that lead to his death, stating that it will take measures to prevent such errors from occurring in the future.
The lawsuit filed against two of Blankenship’s dentists and the hospital alleges that they were negligent in prescribing the fentanyl patch. The family is seeking undisclosed damages for funeral expenses and loss of companionship.