Opinion ID: 4470347
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Michael’s medical history

Text: Michael had been in two or three motor vehicle accidents: one in 2008 and one in either 2010 or 2011.5 After the 2008 collision, Michael sought treatment for his accident-related pain with Dr. Ross Ufberg. 6 After the second accident, Michael 5 The record is unclear as to whether Michael was involved in two or three accidents between 2008 and 2011. A318. Dr. Steven Grossinger noted in his initial report, written the day Michael presented to GNS, that Michael had been in an accident in 2008 and 2011. A157. In his July 11 report, however, Dr. Steven Grossinger only mentions a collision in 2008 and on April 1, 2010. A216. 6 A215; A319. 4 continued to see Dr. Ufberg, who prescribed Lyrica and Oxycodone.7 Lyrica is not an opiate, but Oxycodone is. 8 In March 2011, Dr. Ufberg discharged Michael “due to inconsistencies in his urine drug screen.” 9 Shortly thereafter, Michael again sought treatment for pain, this time with Dr. Damon Cary.10 Dr. Cary prescribed Roxicodone and MS Contin, 11 both of which are opiates. 12 Michael continued to follow-up with Dr. Cary through July 17, 2012.13 At some point during his pain treatment, Michael became addicted to opiates—specifically, heroin. In December of 2013, Michael sought treatment for his addiction with Dr. Irwin L. Lifrak, who prescribed Suboxone “to assist in [Michael’s] detoxication from opioids, such as heroin, Percocet, oxycontin, oxycodone[,] or hydrocodone.”14 Suboxone is the brand name for a combination of buphrenorphine, an opiate, and naloxone, an opiate antagonist.15 Its only use is for 7 A216; A319. 8 Is Lyrica a Narcotic?, HEALTHLINE, https://www.healthline.com/health/is-lyrica-a-narcotic (last visited Nov. 11, 2019); Oxycodone HCL Solution, WEBMD, https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-1025-5278/oxycodone-oral/oxycodone-oral/details (last visited Nov. 11, 2019). 9 A216; A319. 10 A216; A319. 11 A216; A319. 12 MS Contin, WEBMD, https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-1507/ms-contin-oral/details (last visited Nov. 11, 2019). Roxicodone is simply another name for Oxycodone. Roxicodone, WEBMD, https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-3499/roxicodone-oral/details (last visited Nov. 11, 2019). 13 A217. 14 A263–264; A320. 15 Opioid Overdose Reversal with Naloxone (Narcan, Evzio), NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE (Apr. 2018), https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/opioid-overdose-reversal- 5 treating opiate addictions—it is not used to treat pain.16 Michael’s treatment with Dr. Lifrak abruptly ended after one month, on January 14, 2014, when Michael tested positive for heroin, as a result of which he was discharged from Dr. Lifrak’s care.17