Kanawha woman sues Target for medicine mix-up

CHARLESTON -- A Kanawha County woman is suing Target Corporation after the Southridge Target Pharmacy gave her the wrong prescription.

On Feb. 24, 2009, Wendelin Bowen seriously cut her right lower leg and was taken to Thomas Memorial Hospital, where she received 19 sutures, according to a complaint filed March 1 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Bowen claims she was released from the hospital with a prescription for Keflex, an antibiotic to fight any possible infection from her injury, and took the prescription to be filled at the Southridge Target Pharmacy, but instead of providing her with Keflex, the pharmacy provided her with an anti-seizure medication called Keppra.

Assuming her prescription had been filled as written, Bowen took the anti-seizure medication incorrectly provided by Target, according to the suit.

Bowen claims her leg condition worsened and on March 2, 2009, she went to Urgent Care to receive treatment. Since she had a high level of pain in her right lower leg and the skin surrounding the injured area was red and swollen, Urgent Care advised her to return to Thomas Memorial Hospital.

On March 3, 2009, Bowen presenting to the hospital with a second degree infection in the 19 sutures and was provided antibiotics to fight the infection and instructed to follow up in two days, according to the suit.

Two days later, Bowen claims she was diagnosed with a post-traumatic wound infection, cellulitis and abscess of the leg.

Bowen claims Thomas Memorial Hospital's Wound Care Center determined that the post-traumatic wound infection, cellulitis and abscess of the leg developed due to the erroneous medication prescription.

After nearly one month of various treatments, Bowen had to have a split thickness skin graft procedure, according to the suit.

Bowen claims Target Corporation was negligent in filling her prescription and caused her to suffer serious injury.

Bowen is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by Paul K. Reese.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Paul Zakaib Jr.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-341