PIERRE, S.D. —The family of a Pierre community leader is suing Walgreens for personal injury leading to the wrongful death of John Stengle.
Court documents allege that Walgreens pharmacy failed to correctly fill Stengle’s prescription for Amiodarone, anti-arrhythmic drug, which caused Stengle to suffer from Amiodarone toxicity.
“If a patient suffers Amiodarone toxicity, vital organs such as the liver, lungs, and kidneys may become irreversibly damaged leading to death,” court documents state.
Certified medical records confirm that Walgreens pharmacy received the correct prescription and dosing instructions from Stengle’s cardiologist for 90-days worth of 126 pills with instructions to tier the dosing at four levels.
Walgreens instead filled Stengle’s prescription with 500 pills instead of 126 and did not include part of the dosing instructions.
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Walgreens re-filled the prescription before the pills ran out and re-started the “heavy-tiered” dosing and again did not include the dosing instructions which would have decreased the dosage to be taken for the last two weeks of the four week regimen.
Over the course of several months Stengle’s body suffered from Amiodarone toxicity, which caused multi-system organ failure.
“Mr. Stengle suffered a long, painful death witnessed by his wife and his daughter,” court documents state.
“Prior to his death, John Stengle endured severe conscious mental and physical pain and suffering, for which the Estate of John Stengle seeks damages.”
Karen Stengle, his widow, and Nicole Stengle, his daughter, are seeking $75,000 in damages.
“His widow, Karen Stengle, has suffered the loss of his care, society, services, companionship, contributions, consortium and support of her husband,” court documents state.
His daughter, Nicole Stengle, has suffered the loss of his care, society, services, companionship, contributions, consortium and support of her father”.
For failing to provide full and correct dosage instructions to Stengle and incorrectly filling, then refilling his prescription before his pills ran out, the plaintiffs allege that Walgreens employees, pharmacists, pharmacists assistants, aids, technicians agents and others who may been involved are responsible for the wrongful death of Stengle.
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The defendant, Walgreens, has requested a jury trial.
Stengle was an advocate for people with disabilities, according to his obituary.
“He was honored to be invited to the White House, where he witnessed the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. In 2001, he was hired as executive director of the Housing and Redevelopment Commission of Pierre, a role he would serve until his retirement,” his obituary states.
A trial date has not yet been scheduled.
