Pubdate: Sat, 02 Nov 2002 Source: Sun News (SC) Copyright: 2002 Sun Publishing Co. Contact: http://web.thesunnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/987 Author: Elaine Gaston Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone) LAWSUIT CITES CLINIC, OWNER Dr. D. Michael Woodward and the Comprehensive Care and Pain Management Center in Myrtle Beach were named in a lawsuit filed by a former patient alleging negligence. Horry County resident Susan Saleeby, a former patient at the clinic, filed the lawsuit Oct. 9, alleging Woodward and several doctors who worked with him at the clinic prescribed addictive medications, causing her injuries and damages. Woodward and several others are charged in connection with a federal investigation involving the illegal distribution of OxyContin and other controlled substances at the now closed Comprehensive Care and Pain Management Center at 7714 N. Kings Highway. Their criminal cases are pending and Woodward remains jailed. The suit said "the drugs prescribed by defendants were addictive and included Ambien, carisoprofol, alprazolam, hydrocodone and Percoset." Saleeby says the defendants failed to warn her of the dangers of the treatment and of the prescribed drugs. "In prescribing to plaintiff quantities of habit forming drugs when the defendants knew, or should have known, that by the use of such drugs plaintiff would become addicted ... and unable to control her craving and use of them," the suit says. Saleeby says the defendants' negligence led to her becoming "addicted to drugs, resulting in a deteriorated physical and mental condition and frequent and extended periods of illness," according to the suit. Saleeby is seeking punitive and actual damages in a jury trial. Her husband, Jan Saleeby, also filed a lawsuit Oct. 9, seeking damages as a result of his wife's injuries. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth