Chris Cornell’s family settles malpractice suit with his last doctor
When the toxicology report came back after Chris Cornell’s suicide in May 2017, it revealed that he had a cocktail of prescription drugs in his system at the time of his death: Butalbital, Lorazepam, Pseudoephedrine, and various barbiturates. We also know that one of the last things he said to his wife, Vicky, over the phone was that he’d just taken two Ativans.
In 2018, Vicky and the family sued Dr. Robert Koblin for medical malpractice, alleging that his treatment of Chris contributed to his death. The complaint stated that all these prescribed meds “impaired [his] cognition, clouded his judgment, and caused him to engage in dangerous impulsive behaviours that he was unable to control, costing him his life.”
Court documents said that Chris was “an addiction-prone individual” (true; he had issues with heroin and alcohol) and he was never warned about the possible side effects of Lorazepam (Ativan), which include impaired judgement, less impulse control, and increased possibility of suicide. Chris did receive over 940 does of Ativan between September 2015 and his death in May 2017.
The medical examiner said that drugs did not contribute to the cause of Chris’ death, but this case may have found otherwise. The settlement is confidential and all the documentation has been sealed.
