EDWARDSVILLE – An Illinois man alleges he became addicted to opiate-based painkillers after they were prescribed by a Madison County doctor.
Frank Presson filed a complaint Feb. 15 in Madison County Circuit Court against Family Care Specialists of Edwardsville and its President Dr. Dean Schueler; Watson’s Drug Store of Vandalia; and Rosewood Care Center in Edwardsville.
Presson states that Schueler was his primary care physician and starting in 2002, Schueler treated the plaintiff's diabetes and peripheral neuropathy. The suit states that starting in 2006, Schueler began prescribing opiate-based medications for pain relief to the plaintiff. The plaintiff alleges Schueler and FCS issued at least 220 prescriptions for opiate-based painkillers to him from 2007 to 2018, and the prescriptions were filled by Watson's Drug Store.
Presson alleged the prescriptions were dangerous given what Schueler and Watson’s knew about his risk of dependence and further alleged Watson’s did not consider any alternative treatments despite knowing alternatives were available.
The suit states the plaintiff was admitted to Rosewood Care Center as an in-patient in November 2016 for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and that the center discharged him without treating his addiction to the medications.
Presson seeks a jury trial and more than $50,000 in damages.
Representing Presson in the matter are attorneys from Simon Law PC of St. Louis.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 19-L-227