Widow sues over husband's Fentanyl death

The widow of a Madison County man claims a local pain treatment center is to blame for her husband's alleged drug overdose.

Sue Daniels, acting as special administrator of the estate of Tony Daniels, filed a lawsuit against Piasa Pain Center LLC, Dr. Wynndel T. Buenger, Dr. Thomas B. Brummett, Medtronic Inc., and Alton Memorial Hospital on Dec. 20 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Daniels says her husband was admitted to the Piasa Pain Center in December 2009. She contends he was given an improper injection of pain medication through a SynchroMed II pump, causing an overdose of the drug Fentanyl. Daniels says her husband became unresponsive shortly thereafter.

According to the lawsuit, Tony Daniels was transferred to Alton Memorial Hospital to be treated for a Fentanyl overdose. However, his wife says he had already suffered severe brain and lung injuries because of the injections. Daniels claims her husband survived for nearly two years but eventually died on Nov. 16.

Daniels accuses Piasa Pain Center of negligence for administering the medicine. Drs. Buenger and Brummett, managers of the pain center, are accused of failing to properly train the medical staff in the use of the equipment.

Medtronic is also listed as a defendant for manufacturing an allegedly defective pain pump. Alton Memorial Hospital is named for not treating Tony Daniels in a timely manner and for operating the pain clinic that allegedly administered the medication.

Sue Daniels is asking for more than $500,000 in damages for pain and suffering, medical bills and court costs. She is represented by attorney Bruce N. Cook of Belleville.

Madison County Circuit Court case no. 10-L-1267