The attorneys at Leeseberg Tuttle filed a wrongful death lawsuit earlier today against Mount Carmel Health System and Dr. William Husel, as well as a pharmacist and a nurse, alleging they intentionally administered a lethal dose of the narcotic Fentanyl to Janet Kavanaugh, who died on December 11, 2017 at the age of 79. According to a medical expert, who signed an affidavit of merit filed with the Complaint, the amount of Fentanyl prescribed and given to Ms. Kavanaugh was grossly inappropriate and excessive, and was intentionally prescribed by Defendant Husel for the purposes of hastening the termination of Janet Kavanaugh’s life.
According to the Complaint filed in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas earlier today, Mount Carmel administrators recently contacted Ms. Kavanaugh’s daughter to inform her of the excessive dosage of Fentanyl, and to advise that the Mount Carmel staff members involved in the Fentanyl prescription and administration had been suspended from patient care. Further, hospital administrators indicate that at least 26 patients have been the victim of these excessive and inappropriate dosages, according to the lawsuit. Based on this, Ms. Kavanaugh’s family also asserts claims against Mount Carmel for negligence in permitting Dr. Husel to practice in its facilities, and for negligently supervising the employees involved in ordering, approving, and administering the lethal dose of Fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a powerful opioid pain medication, approximately 100 times stronger than morphine. Ms. Kavanaugh was given the lethal amount of Fentanyl through an IV, causing her death within 18 minutes, according to the lawsuit.
Leeseberg Tuttle is a Columbus-based law firm advocating for the rights of victims of medical malpractice and the negligence of others. The firm is responsible for numerous record-setting verdicts throughout Ohio, including a verdict of $44.5 million in Franklin County last year.
If you believe one of your loved ones may have been given a lethal dose of Fentanyl and suffered a premature death at the hands of Dr. Husel or Mount Carmel, please contact our office immediately and ask to speak with one of our attorneys.
You can read the entire Complaint filed in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas earlier today here: Complaint.pdf