Filing a case against the hospital for being permanently damaged

State: California

I need to know if a friend of mine could still have a case against the hospital he was admitted to for giving him morphine when he is allergic to it. The man went into the hospital for an infection he developed from when he had been on chemo therapy and it had knocked his immune system really low. This was in late 2006. He was administered morphine for pain when it was clearly stated to the nursing staff that he was allergic to it. Because of this reaction to the drug, he started to hallucinate really bad, and they had to restrain him.(from which he developed bed sores!) From the way he describes it,it sounds like he went through a bad "trip" on acid or something. He ended up injuring himself even more by pulling his catheter out and injuring himself to where he has to use one to this day, and cannot have intercourse because of the bed sores went to deep that it damaged a part of his spine. I understand that there is a time frame in which to file things,but shouldn't he still be able to file for damages still since he is permanently damaged from all of this?...Thanks for any help!!!

It is certainly possible you have a case based on what you say here; you should take a brief description of these events as well as your medical records to a malpractice attorney and see if the attorney thinks you have a claim; often you need to contact several attorneys to find one to take the case; the review of your case and records is often free and then they will normally take the case on a contingency fee basis if they think you can win; you would pay only if they collect for you.

Are you "allergic" to morphine or its derivatives (like codeine)?

Believe me, the best time to find that out is as soon as you can, before you might need it - not when you've had to be administered a dose of morphine or codeine as a painkiller after an operation or serious injury. Constant throwing up night and day due to a bad reaction to morphine really isn't conducive to a speedy recovery. Or indeed to killing pain. "Allergies" to drugs are not nice at all. What's an easy (and legal, of course!) way to find out if you have a morphine or codeine "allergy"?

More info @ Morphine or codeine allergy? - A Consuming Experience