Doctor Sued Over Prescription of Painkillers

By Daniel Hawn

Published on September 30, 2005

Lacie Flickinger, 22, claims that she suffered kidney damage after becoming addicted to fentanyl, morphine and other opioid painkillers. In the lawsuit filed in Sedgwick County District Court, Flickinger alleges that Dr. Stephen Schneider, an osteopath from Haysville, prescribed her copious quantities of the drugs to treat anxiety and headaches.

The suit claims that Schneider did not inform Flickinger of the addictive properties of the drugs or the harm they could impose on her body. Schneider is being sued for not properly overseeing Flickinger's condition or her use of the drugs that he prescribed.

Two weeks ago state and federal authorities conducted a raid on Schneider's office. A reason for the raid has not been given, however, and Schneider has not been charged with any crimes.

Flickinger's lawsuit also names Barney's Deep Discount Pharmacy as a defendant. Flickinger claims that pharmacists at Barney's failed to manage the filling of her prescriptions in a way that would have helped to prevent her addiction to them.

George Saghbene, the owner of the pharmacy, said that his establishment was likely included in the lawsuit because of the stir caused by the raid on Schneider's office.

Schneider did not return a call Wednesday regarding the lawsuit.

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