Chris Cornell's Widow Sues Doctor for Malpractice

Chris Cornell's Widow Sues Doctor for Malpractice

Chris Cornell went nearly two years without seeing his doctor for a check-up, but that didn't prevent the rock icon from obtaining prescriptions for powerful psychotropic meds, according to a lawsuit from his widow, Vicky Cornell. 

Vicky is suing Dr. Robert Koblin for malpractice, claiming he funneled her husband 940 doses of the Lorazepam (aka Ativan) and Oxycodone over the last 20 months of Chris's life.

She says that despite the Soundgarden and Audioslave front man's history of addiction struggles, Koblin never attempted to determined if he was in danger or at risk of suicide.

Chris was referred to Koblin in 2004 by his therapist, so the doctor had no excuse to not know the singer's medical history. 

The lawsuit alleges Lorazepam, an anti-anxiety medication, increases the risk of suicide in addiction-prone people because it impairs judgment and rational thinking, and because it diminishes impulse control.

Vicky and Chris's Soundgarden band mates have said repeatedly that the singer seemed completely normal the day he took his own life. 

The lawsuit also alleges that Dr. Koblin never warned Chris about the potentially fatal side-effects of the drugs he was taking. It says he permitted non-physician staff to write prescriptions without proving medical necessity. 

In an interview with ABC last February, Vicky recalled how Chris's use of Ativan increased in the weeks before his suicide. 

"In a seven day period, he took twenty-something pills and in a nine-day period - thirty-three," she said.

Chris is survived by Vicky and his three children, Lillian, Toni and Christopher.


Photo: Getty Images


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content