Jury Deliberates in Opioid Overdose Malpractice Case

A Philadelphia jury has begun deliberating in a medical malpractice case concerning the 2019 death of 26-year-old Matthew Tarnopol. 

The case, heard in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, involves allegations against Dr. Abhijeet Rastogi and Dr. Jonathan Beatty. Tarnopol’s estate claims the doctors’ treatment decisions contributed to his opioid addiction and subsequent fatal overdose. 

According to the lawsuit, Rastogi is accused of increasing Tarnopol’s dosage of the pain medication Nucynta over time, while Beatty, an addiction specialist, allegedly discontinued the medication without providing an alternative, after which Tarnopol turned to illicit drugs before starting the prescribed anti-addiction treatment, Vivitrol. 

The estate also raised concerns that both doctors had roles as paid speakers for pharmaceutical companies linked to the medications involved. Claims against drugmakers including Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Assertio and Alkermes were previously discontinued. 

During closing arguments, the estate argued the outcome was preventable, while the defence maintained that Tarnopol’s drug use and treatment history, including the use of substances such as heroin and fentanyl, were key factors. The defence also disputed aspects of the estate’s account and the role of the doctors’ professional activities. 

The jury is now considering whether the physicians are liable for Tarnopol’s death.