If you're suffering from an ailment of any kind, your natural inclination may be to see a doctor who can prescribe treatment and put you on the road to wellness. Most people don't expect that treatment to cause other medical problems, but in some cases, that's exactly what happens. If it's the medication that caused the problem, a patient may file a product liability lawsuit.

A man from Assumption Parish, Louisiana, went to a doctor to seek treatment for his acne in 2009. The doctor gave him a prescription for Accutane, the brand name for a powerful drug that's commonly used to treat that condition. The man says he began suffering from dry, swollen lips, dry eyes and headaches. What's more, he says, his acne became worse.

After a month of treatment, he stopped using the drug. But more than a year later, the man landed in the hospital and was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. He claims the acne medication caused the onset of the serious inflammatory bowel disease. The man is suing the company that produced the name-brand drug and accusing it of violating the Louisiana Products Liability Act by constructing, manufacturing, marketing and distributing a defective and unreasonably dangerous drug. He's also suing the doctor who prescribed it for "violating the standard of care applicable to dermatology."

The man's lawsuit seeks damages for medical expenses, loss of earnings and earning capacity, pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, disability, scarring and disfigurement, court costs and interest.

The drug in question, isotretinoin, is extremely powerful. Because it carries a risk of birth defects and changes in mental health, including severe depression, it's usually prescribed with great caution and a large number of warnings of side effects. Although it's unclear whether the man was told about these possible effects, anyone taking medication to clear up a health problem has a reasonable expectation they will become better, rather than develop a debilitating and permanent disease.

Source: The Louisiana Record, "Patient claims acne medication caused Crohn's Disease and sues prescribing doctor," Michelle Keahey, Jan. 23, 2012