A Des Moines doctor faces a fifth malpractice lawsuit for allegedly prescribing large amounts of narcotic painkillers to a patient who fatally overdosed.
Dr. Daniel Baldi was sued this week by the family of 39-year-old Chad Martin. Martin, of Johnston, died last September.
The lawsuit says Martin died of an overdose of oxycodone, and alleges that Baldi was "grossly negligent" because he prescribed the drug without properly assessing Martin's need for it.
Martin's death was one of eight cited by prosecutors this month when they filed involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldi. The Iowa Board of Medicine also has filed administrative charges against him.
Baldi has denied wrongdoing. His attorney, Guy Cook, says the lawsuit is unfounded.
