Many Louisiana residents may have first-hand experience with drug use or have family or friends who have struggled with addiction. It can be a deadly disease, which is why users often enroll in treatment. Patients expect to come out of their treatment program in better shape than when they went in. However, three patients at one drug rehabilitation program have died in the past nine months, leading their distraught parents to file wrongful death lawsuits against the facility.
The parents of the deceased patients are claiming negligence and wrongful death by the facility, which claimed that its treatment was safe and effective. However, the parents claim the facility misled its patients in several areas. The facility bases its treatment on Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, who has no knowledge or training in the areas of addiction and treatment. In addition, the facility claims that a doctor is onsite 24 hours a day, when in fact one is present only once a week.
The latest victim at southeastern Oklahoma’s Narconon Arrowhead facility is a 32-year-old man. The man’s mother is seeking $75,000 each for negligence, wrongful death and violation of the Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act. She also wants the court to award punitive damages so that the facility can be punished and hopefully end the negligent and fraudulent behavior.
A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit that can be brought about by the surviving family members of the deceased person. A wrongful death can occur in instances such as an auto accident, workplace accident or criminal activity. In this case, medical negligence was the cause of death. The liability is placed on the facility, which the plaintiffs claim was intentionally negligent. Therefore the families of the deceased are claiming compensation for their losses.
Source: KRMG, “Another wrongful death lawsuit targets Narconon Arrowhead,” Russell Mills, Oct. 24, 2012
