A blood transfusion can be the difference between life or death for a severely ill or injured patient. While the new supply of blood could save a patient’s life, there are many problems that could go wrong with the transfusion that could further harm an already vulnerable individual. If you or someone you love has suffered from medical malpractice through a poor blood transfusion, consider contacting a medical malpractice attorney immediately to see if you have grounds to initiate a claim for compensation.
Blood Transfusion Risks
At every stage of a transfusion, there are potential problems that could cause the transfusion to fail and either be ineffective or cause further injury to the patient. The following is a list of risks associated with blood transfusions:
- Poor handling of needle that causes bruising or internal bleeding
- Transfusion of contaminated blood
- Transfusion of wrong blood type
- Performing a transfusion without informed consent from the patient
- Waiting too long to administer the transfusion
Effects of a Bad Transfusion
The timing and execution of a blood transfusion must be exact in order for a patient to successfully accept the blood into their system and recover from his or her injury or illness. When one of the above problems occurs and the transfusion is unsuccessful, the following health complications could result:
- Contraction of HIV, Hepatitis, MRSA, or other infection from contaminated blood
- Multi-organ failure from receiving the wrong blood type during transfusion
- Bruising, bleeding, or other internal injury from improper handing of needle
- Death
The aftereffects of an improper transfusion can be costly and may even cost the patient her life. Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals have a responsibility to adhere to strict protocols when performing blood transfusions and to take reasonable care to keep the patient safe from harm. If a health care professional is found to be negligent, the individual or the hospital may be sued for medical malpractice. A lawsuit could recover compensation for costly medical bills, lost wages from time off of work, physical therapy costs, funeral costs, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.
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