I wish them the best of luck.  I also wish that they’ll send me any documents they obtain from the Canadian subsidiaries they plan on suing.

EDMONTON — The last time Ellen Robb spoke with her brother, he was doing chores and laundry at home, optimistic that with his chronic back pain under control, he would soon be back at work as an electrician.

Four days later, after many unanswered phone calls, Robb found Doug Hoy dead on his apartment floor, barefoot as if he were on his way to get his laundry basket across the hall.

Months later, a toxicology report revealed Hoy’s blood had three times the safe amount of fentanyl, Robb said.

Fentanyl is an opiate 80 to 100 times as strong as morphine, and approved for use as a pain medication in Canada and the United States.

Hoy had been prescribed the fentanyl patch to treat his severe chronic back pain after another powerful opiate, OxyContin, failed to bring relief.

Now, Robb and her family have taken steps to launch a class-action lawsuit against five pharmaceutical companies, alleging the companies that design, test and distribute fentanyl patches were negligent in warning people about the risks of breathing problems or death, as well as severe weakness, drowsiness and confusion.

Source: Family of dead Alta. man seeks class-action lawsuit against drug-makers