A elderly Carroll County woman filed a $1 million lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore alleging a Westminster Giant gave her the wrong prescription for her diabetes, causing her to lose much of her hair.
“I have to get a wig,” said Ann Brill, 82, of Finksburg. “I?m very ashamed to go out.”
On Jan. 27, Brill received a prescription from her physician for Glimepiride for her diabetes, the suit states.
After ingesting 27 pills over as many days, she discovered the prescription bottle had been filled with Levothyroxine, Brill said. Levothyroxine is a hormone replacement drug used to treat goiter and thryroid problems.
The bottle was correctly labeled but contained the wrong medication.
“I?ve been physically, mentally and emotionally suffering since February,” Brill said. “I?ve gone through a lot of suffering and I?m still suffering. I wouldn?t wish this on anybody.”
The wrong pills caused her to suffer from headaches, pain to her legs, elevated blood pressure, rash on her chest and scalp, and loss of her hair, the suit states. She was hospitalized for more than a week.
“Since January she?s been through hell,” Brill?s attorney Marvin Ellin said. “These injuries are permanent. It?s been horrible. She?s lucky this hasn?t killed her.”
The suit names Ahold USA Inc., the owner of the Giant Pharmacy at 405 North Center Road in Westminster, as the defendant.
A representative from Ahold could not immediately be reached for comment.
