MDLinxUtah Jury Awards $2M to Mother of Man Denied Medication

Abrupt Benzodiazepine Discontinuation in Correctional Facilities: Implications for Patient Safety and Healthcare Practices

A recent court case highlights the potential dangers of abruptly discontinuing benzodiazepine medications in correctional facilities. A Utah jury awarded $2 million to the mother of Jeremey Aus, who died in 2013 while incarcerated at Salt Lake County Jail. The lawsuit alleged that contracted nursing staff’s refusal to provide Aus with his prescribed clonazepam led to his death.

Key Points:

• Jeremey Aus had been taking prescribed Klonopin (clonazepam) for 10 years prior to his 2013 incarceration.
• Jail nursing staff declined to provide Aus with his prescription benzodiazepine.
• Aus reported withdrawal symptoms to staff through multiple sick call requests.
• On November 16, 2013, Aus exhibited severe symptoms including muscle spasms or seizures.
• Aus was declared deceased while en route to a local hospital on the same day.
• A medical malpractice lawsuit was filed against Salt Lake County Jail and Wellcon, the healthcare provider.
• The jury determined that the nurse breached standards of care by not monitoring Aus for withdrawal signs.
• A $2 million award was granted for pain and suffering, though the jury did not conclude the nurse’s actions directly caused Aus’s death.
• Benzodiazepine withdrawal severity can vary based on dosage, length of use, and individual factors.
• Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild anxiety and sleep disturbances to severe risks including delirium, seizures, and death.
• Comorbidities, medical complexities, and concurrent substance use can increase the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms.
• Benzodiazepine tapering plans should be highly individualized, with duration depending on length of use.
• Tapering durations can range from a week to years, based on individual circumstances.
• Some patients may require residential or intensive outpatient treatment for monitored tapering.

“Benzodiazepine withdrawal goes from mild withdrawal where you’re a little more anxious and you have trouble sleeping, but there’s no particular medical risk, to pretty extreme medical risks, including delirium, seizures, changes in blood pressure, and even death.”
– Brian Hurley, MD, MBA, FAPA, DFASAM; Medical Director of the Division of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

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