We are all aware of the dangers of medical malpractice and how this very problem is continuing to grow in the United States, but this recent story out of McKinney takes that to a whole new level. A longtime McKinney family doctor has been accused of using his prescription pad and responsibilities as a physician to deal drugs, resulting in the death of at least six patients. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Dr. Randall Wade was running a “pill mill” out of this Texas office, prescribing staggering amounts of painkillers to patients who were not actually in pain. This is a recent development and Wade was indicted just last month (October) on drug distribution charges.
In recent months numerous family members have come forward, saying Wade knowingly prescribed their loved ones powerful painkillers that they did not need. In one particular case, a 26-year-old woman – Brittany Hogan – died in 2015 after a heroin overdose. An autopsy revealed she also had Xanax in her system. According to the young woman’s family, she turned to heroin after being prescribed big doses of powerful opiate-based drugs – such as hydrocodone – by Wade. Hogan’s family notes that Wade is known in the community as a doctor who would freely give out pain pills, saying “every day without pain is a good day”.
The Dangers of Medical Malpractice
In addition to Hogan, five other families have come forward claiming Wade knowingly prescribed their loved ones high doses of strong pain pills when they were not in pain. According to the DEA, Wade was listed as one of the top prescribers of hydrocodone in a 10 county area last year. The majority (88%) of the drugs he prescribed are among the most abused drugs on the market:
- Xanax
- Hydrocodone
- Carisoprodol (the muscle relaxer Soma)
This case is just one example of how medical malpractice can turn deadly. While many medical malpractice cases show negligence and errors made on the part of the physician, Wade’s case is one of blatant disregard and intended harm. This case is extremely unusual, especially given the fact that Wade is a family doctor who has been practicing in McKinney for more than three decades. However, we have seen other similar stories pop up around the nation, including in Georgia where a doctor was recently found guilty for his role in running a pill mill out of a fake pain management clinic.
Pursuing a medical malpractice claim isn’t always as straightforward as many think. However, in cases like that of Wade where there are witnesses and mounting evidence against the doctor, these cases are more likely to be pursued and closed without much argument from the defendant. It is important you understand the ins and outs of a medical malpractice claim before moving forward, as every case is different. One of the first things you should do when you believe you have a medical malpractice claim on your hands is contact an attorney. A knowledgeable medical malpractice attorney will be able to advise you on how to proceed and will work hard to gather evidence and represent you in a court of law. To schedule a consultation with one of our McKinney medical malpractice attorneys, please contact Wormington & Bollinger today.