As ketamine treatment expands across the country, so do the risks, and the lawsuits. Sean T. Olson, founder and personal injury attorney at Olson Personal Injury Lawyers, has spent decades handling medical malpractice claims and is now seeing a troubling uptick in ketamine-related cases.
In this guide, Sean breaks down what constitutes ketamine malpractice, how to recognize unsafe prescribing practices, and what steps injured patients need to take to build a valid claim.
Whether ketamine was prescribed through an online platform, administered at home without supervision, or provided without proper screening, understanding your rights is the first step toward recovery.
How common has ketamine malpractice become in the last couple of years?
Over the last decade, ketamine malpractice cases have become increasingly common. Medical providers across the country are prescribing and administering ketamine without always following the necessary safety protocols for a drug that can carry serious risks.
Unfortunately, we now hear from patients nationwide who have suffered significant harm because their providers failed to take the proper precautions when prescribing or administering this medication.
What are some of the main concerns that have arisen from the popularity of ketamine use for mental health?
One of the biggest concerns with ketamine being used for mental health treatment is that some providers may prioritize profit over patient safety. Ketamine can be an effective treatment, but it is also a powerful drug that can cause dissociation, hallucinations, and other unpredictable reactions.
The risk increases when ketamine is prescribed to patients nationwide through online platforms without proper screening, monitoring, or follow-up care. Providers must take every necessary precaution to ensure this medication is prescribed and administered safely.
Sean Olson
“If you or a loved one was seriously harmed or killed after receiving ketamine, speak with an attorney who has experience handling ketamine malpractice cases.
They can review your medical records, evaluate the provider’s conduct, and determine whether you have a valid claim.”
In your experience, how would one go about proving medical malpractice from ketamine use?
Generally, providers may violate the standard of care when they prescribe ketamine for patients to take at home without appropriate supervision. Because ketamine can cause hallucinations, dissociation, and other serious reactions, patients may need to receive it in a controlled clinical setting where trained medical professionals can monitor them during and after treatment.
Does this only apply to mental health treatment, or other medical treatments as well?
These safety concerns apply regardless of whether ketamine is prescribed for a mental health condition or another medical purpose. What matters is the potential reaction. If a patient becomes disoriented, hallucinates, or dissociates, immediate clinical supervision can help prevent the patient from harming themselves or others.
How do you know if you have a valid ketamine malpractice case?
Generally speaking, to know if you’ve got a ketamine malpractice case, it’s important to look at the manner in which the ketamine was prescribed and administered.
If the ketamine was prescribed and administered in a home environment without medical supervision, odds are good that the provider who prescribed and administered that medication committed malpractice. In other words, they fell below their conduct fell below the standard of care.
If you think you’ve got a case like that where someone was harmed or killed as a result of ketamine malpractice, contact a lawyer who’s experienced in ketamine malpractice cases, and they can walk you through the next steps that you need to take, the materials you need to review to determine whether or not a ketamine malpractice case exists.
How are you using your vast experience handling medical malpractice claims to handle the increase in ketamine malpractice cases?
Medical malpractice cases are difficult. They require significant time, resources, and the expertise of medical professionals who can thoroughly analyze what happened and why.
Determining whether you have a valid ketamine malpractice case begins with examining how the medication was prescribed and administered. If ketamine was provided for use at home without proper medical supervision, the prescribing provider may have failed to meet the required standard of care.
If you or a loved one was seriously harmed or killed after receiving ketamine, speak with an attorney who has experience handling ketamine malpractice cases. They can review your medical records, evaluate the provider’s conduct, and determine whether you have a valid claim.
Where do you think ketamine malpractice is heading over the next few years, and do you expect stricter regulations?
As ketamine becomes more widely used to treat depression and other mental health conditions, I expect the number of malpractice cases to increase. Some providers may continue prescribing it in person, online, or over the phone without adequate screening, supervision, or follow-up care, particularly as the market for these treatments grows.
I do not anticipate ketamine malpractice cases declining over the next decade. Although stronger regulation and clearer safety standards may be needed, I am not optimistic that meaningful federal oversight will be implemented anytime soon.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by ketamine malpractice, don’t wait. Contact Olson Personal Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation. Sean Olson and his team have the experience needed to evaluate your case and fight for the compensation you deserve.
