Parents File Wrongful Death Suit After Son Dies From Kratom
Kratom is an herbal extract that comes from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, a tropical evergreen tree found in Southeast Asia. Kratom has opioid properties and stimulant-like effects. It is used as traditional medicine in some countries and in the United States, many people use it for pain, anxiety, depression, and opioid withdrawal. The main psychoactive components of kratom are two alkaloids called mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.
On top of that, a 23-year-old man died from mitragynine intoxication. The wrongful death lawsuit was recently filed in Georgia. The lawsuit is holding more than a dozen defendants liable for the man’s death, including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of kratom.
Included in the lawsuit are former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services official Mac Haddow and the American Kratom Association (AKA). According to the lawsuit, Haddow is the current Senior Fellow on Public Policy for AKA, and the AKA is involved in a scheme to claim that kratom products are safe in an attempt to deceive the public. However, the AKA is fighting back, claiming that it was wrongfully added to the lawsuit. The AKA claims that it is a consumer advocacy group dedicated to the responsible use of kratom.
Is Kratom Safe?
Just because kratom is plant-based does not mean it is safe. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved kratom for any medical use. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has also listed kratom as a Drug and Chemical of Concern.
Kratom is a potentially dangerous substance that acts like a painkiller but can trigger addiction. This is not the first case in which someone had died from kratom use. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has linked more than 150 deaths to kratom use. In addition, kratom can contain bacteria. Many people have become ill with salmonella poisoning after taking kratom and this may be fatal.
What is Needed to File a Lawsuit for Katom Injury or Death?
Filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit based on kratom use required evidence. For a potential case involving injury related to kratom, you would need a medically documented injury that a doctor has associated with kratom. For a potential case involving death related to kratom, you should get an autopsy report, toxicology report, and a death certificate.
Contact Us Today
It’s always devastating when a person dies unexpectedly, but when a person uses a substance that is not FDA-approved to self-medicate, they are putting their life at risk. Should the manufacturer be held liable?
Maybe. Discuss your case with an Alpharetta personal injury lawyer from Hawkins Spizman Trial Lawyers. If your loved one has died due to someone else’s negligence, contact us to understand your legal options. Call 770-685-6400 or fill out the online form to schedule a free consultation. The firm serves Georgia, including Atlanta, Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Cobb County, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Johns Creek, and Sandy Springs.
Source:
wholefoodsmagazine.com/news/main-news/kratom-at-center-of-wrongful-death-lawsuit/
