Wrong prescription alleged in wrongful death suit

A doctor at a Belleville medical center is accused of improperly prescribing a pain medication that caused the death of one of his patients.

Nanette Stein, as daughter and special administrator of the estate of Lena Williams, filed a lawsuit Feb. 1 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Dr. Joseph Yazdi and HSHS Medical Group Inc., doing business as Southern Illinois Brain and Spine Center.

According to the complaint, Williams was a patient of Yazdi at the Southern Illinois Brain and Spine Center in March 2012. Stein claims Yazdi prescribed Fentanyl transdermal, a patch designed to deliver 50 micrograms per hour of pain medication. Two days after beginning the medication, Stein says Williams had a heart attack and died. She contends the cause of death was an excessive dose of Fentanyl.

Stein is suing Yazdi and his employer of negligence and wrongful death. She asks for more than $300,000 in damages for medical expenses and court costs.

Attorney Samantha S. Unsell, of Belleville, represents Stein.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 13-L-60