Vicky Cornell is suing her late husband's doctor for malpractice, alleging that he was reckless in the way in which he prescribed drugs to the former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell.
According to Pitchfork, who obtained a copy of Cornell's lawsuit, the widow is suing Dr. Robert Koblin “for negligently and repeatedly prescribing dangerous mind-altering controlled substances to Chris Cornell, which impaired [his] cognition, clouded his judgment, and caused him to engage in dangerous impulsive behaviors that he was unable to control, costing him his life.”
TMZ notes that Koblin knew Chris was an "addiction-prone individual" — having been referred to Koblin initially by a therapist treating Cornell for substance abuse.
Vicky Cornell claims in the lawsuit that Koblin failed to "conduct a medical examination of [him], perform any laboratory studies, obtain an interim history, or do any type of clinical assessment of [him].”
Of particular interest in the lawsuit mentioned Cornell's prescription for Lorazepam. The suit alleges that the drug "increases the risk of suicide in addiction-prone individuals by impairing judgment and rational thinking.”
The suit goes on to claim that Koblin “failed to warn or counsel [Chris] Cornell about the risk of suicidal ideation or any of the other serious side effects of protracted Lorazepam use, which included impaired impulse control, worsening mental distress, and an enhanced sense of desperation.”
Cornell had Lorazepam in his system at the time of his death, according to toxicology reports released in the weeks following his suicide.
Vicky Cornell and her two children are suing for unspecified damages.
