Lawsuit Claims Fentanyl Patch from Drug Giant Mylan Caused Death

By Jim Greene

Published on March 29, 2010

A wrongful death lawsuit for more than $400,000 was recently filed in Illinois against drug maker Mylan, Inc., blaming a fentanyl pain killer patch the company produced for the death of the plaintiff's mother.

According to the lawsuit, filed in Madison County Circuit Court, Betty J. Pellazari, of Dover, Tenn., died of a fentanyl overdose in the early morning hours of March 8, after applying a transdermal patch according to directions the night before. Jason Pellazari, the dead woman's son and the plaintiff in the case, alleges in his suit that the patch was defective.

Opioid Fentanyl Stronger than Morphine

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid pain killer more powerful than morphine. It is often prescribed for patients who have developed a tolerance for morphine and other opioids. Transdermal patches contain fentanyl in gel form and are designed to deliver the drug through the skin at a consistent dosage for a few days.

Numerous lawsuits have claimed that defective fentanyl patches have caused overdoses, leading to serious injury or death. Other suits have blamed doctors, dentists, and pharmacists for inappropriately prescribing fentanyl, especially for patients who have not developed an opioid tolerance.

Plaintiff Cites Blood Tests to Support Overdose Claim

Pellazari's suit claims that tests proved his mother had more than the medically recognized toxic level of fentanyl in her bloodstream.

The suit claims Mylan, Inc., of Canonsburg, Penn., was negligent in not providing adequate label warnings, and in not properly designing or testing its patches, to ensure that the design and the materials used would prevent accidental overdose. The suit also faults Mylan for not properly monitoring adverse outcomes from patches it distributed.

If you or someone you love has suffered injury or death after using a fentanyl transdermal patch, contact an experienced defective products attorney. You may be entitled to financial compensation for medical expenses, loss of income, or loss of the support and companionship of a loved one.

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