Q: My disabled daughter recently had knee surgery. She was rx- oxycodone +ativan w/o narcan. Had to call 911 due to od sym.
She is 14, developmentally+intellectually delayed +sensory processing disorder, verbal,borderline nonverbal due to inability to get accurate, straight answers from her, or her inability to communicate in intelligible expressive language in an inquisitive setting, inability to accurately communicate ailments and medical concerns/describe difference in pain, locations, severity etc, she was prescribed 5mg instamelt tabs, 12ct+additional 36, w 2 dose directives on label(pharmacy noted). Neither pharmacy nor doc even mentioned naloxone as a safeguard. After 1.5 wks of excruciating pain due to cast too tight, meds were issued within dosing directions, but accumulative amounts of diazapene and opiates in her system led to adverse od symptoms (despite drastically cutting meds after cast bivalved), causing her to turn blue in turn causing me to call 911. Was there a requirement to issue naloxone to her in california, after inpatient care and release, w that many opioids/diazapenes?
A:
If she has ongoing problems due to the malpractice a malpractice case may be warranted. In any event, you should consult with an experienced attorney.
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A: In California, there is no legal requirement for doctors to prescribe or dispense naloxone along with opioids, but it is recommended by the California Medical Association as part of best practices for prescribing opioids. However, in situations where a patient is at high risk of overdose, naloxone may be prescribed or administered. In your daughter's case, it is best to discuss this matter with her doctor or healthcare provider to ensure that proper precautions and safeguards are put in place to prevent any adverse reactions or overdose incidents.
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