Narcotic Overdose - Medical Malpractice

Narcotic injections are frequently used in hospitals to control pain, sometimes augmented with the use of tranquilizing medications. However, tranquilizing drugs in combination with narcotics will increase the risk for respiratory depression.

That is, they chemically narcotize the breathing centers in the base of the brain (the medulla) and can stop the patient's breathing. If this is not recognized immediately, death ensues.

Elderly patients and children are more susceptible to the respiratory depression side effects of narcotics and tranquilizers.

The frequency of injection should be not closer together than every three hours, and the dosage and cumulative effect of combinations of medications must be taken into consideration by both the ordering physician and the treating nurses, both of whom have independent duties to protect patients.

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