MINNEAPOLIS - The family of the late rock star Prince is suing a doctor who prescribed pain pills for him, saying the doctor failed to treat him for opiate addiction and therefore bears responsibility for his death two years ago.
Prince died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl in April 2016. Authorities say Dr. Michael Schulenberg admitted prescribing oxycodone to Prince under his bodyguard's name to protect Prince's privacy, though Schulenberg has disputed that.
The lawsuit in Hennepin County District Court alleges that the doctor and other defendants had the opportunity and duty during the weeks before Prince's death to diagnose his opioid addiction and prevent his death, but failed to do so. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages in excess of $50,000.
Schulenberg's attorney says they believe the lawsuit has no merit.
The lawsuit also names UnityPoint Health, which treated Prince during an emergency stop in the Quad Cities in the days before his death, as well as Walgreen's and Schulenberg's employer, North Memorial.
In a statement, North Memorial declined comment other than to, quote: "stand behind the care Mr. Nelson received."
