The father of a 28-year-old man who died after an overdose from a Johnson & Johnson pain-killing patch is suing the pharmaceutical giant for damages. Lee Hendelson of West Palm Beach, FL is seeking damages after his son, Adam, died from using the Duragesic patch to relieve lingering pain from a car accident.

The active ingredient in the Duragesic patch, fentanyl, is a pain killer 100 times more potent than morphine.

“Clearly this patch did not perform as designed because it killed Adam Hendelson,” Mr. Hendelson’s personal injury attorney Jim Orr said during closing arguments. “Millions of dollars would be appropriate…Whether it’s $5 million or $3 million or $10 million.”

On June 18, 2007, the case was before a jury in Miami after a two-week-long-trial. There has not yet been a Duragesic patch recall.

Sources: Jane Musgrave, Palm Beach Post, “Jury deliberating in pain-killing patch trial.” June 18, 2007.