Logan woman sues treatment center for daugther's death

CHARLESTON -- A Logan County woman is suing Charleston Treatment Center for the death of her daughter.

Tonya Lea Keene was participating in a methadone treatment program at Charleston Treatment Center to assist in her struggle with drug addiction rehabilitation, according to a complaint filed Jan. 7 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Keene was admitted to Logan Regional Medical Center on Sept. 6, 2007, to receive an outpatient cholecystectomy. She was released the same day after her post-operative condition was stabilized. According to the suit, Keene's surgery had complications that were not immediately known, including gallstones and bile in her abdomen, which created painful peritonitis.

On Sept. 9, 2007, Keene was found dead in her home. Toxicology reports taken at the time of the autopsy revealed methadone intoxication as the cause of death.

Rita Rowe, Administratrix of Keene's Estate, claims the Charleston Treatment Center provided Keene with excessive amounts of opioids in the context of a treatment paradigm in which she either failed to qualify to possess the opioids or was not appropriately medically managed or monitored for the opioids prescribed.

Rowe claims the defendant breached its duty of care owed to Keene, deviated from the medically acceptable standard of care and was negligent in the medical care rendered to Keene.

Rowe is seeking compensatory damages. She is being represented by John R. Mitchell.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 10-C-43