Philadelphia Blood Transfusion Injury Lawyer
Blood transfusions have been a life-saving medical procedure since the 1600s and are used after surgery and in the wake of serious accidents, and are given to mothers who have lost significant blood during delivery and to anemic patients battling cancer. However, if a blood transfusion is not given to a patient correctly, the patient can suffer severe injury, or even death. Getting a straight answer from your healthcare provider may not be, unfortunately, a realistic option, as they have their own best interests in mind when mistakes have been made. In order to get to the truth, an experienced Philadelphia blood transfusion injury lawyer here at The Villari Firm, PLLC will review your case and begin analyzing your medical records. We can help you file a claim if wrongdoing occurred.
Blood Transfusion Errors and Proving Negligence
Blood transfusion errors can range from unnoticeable to dire. A patient may receive blood that was actually meant for another patient, yet happened to be the same blood type. No adverse reaction would occur in this case. However, if the blood type is different, the patient can quickly go into kidney failure, shock, and even death. Giving a patient the wrong type of blood is just one of many ways that a blood transfusion mistake can lead to serious injury. If this type of mistake is made, an attorney will help prove that medical malpractice occurred, and that the duty of care was breached—one of the necessary elements to a successful medical malpractice claim. It is not enough to simply show that a mistake was made. Doctors and nurses are legally allowed to make mistakes—just not mistakes that breach the medical ‘standard of care’ within a region.
Injuries Caused in Blood Transfusion Errors
- Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction (AHTR), during which the patient’s antibodies destroy the donor red blood cells. This causes anaphylactic shock, blood clotting, stroke, and/or kidney failure
- Infections such as HIV or hepatitis, caused by giving the patient contaminated blood
- Pulmonary embolisms
- Nerve damage
- The required amputation of body parts
- Iron overload
- Hypothermia
- Death
Potential Causes of Blood Transfusion Errors
- Improper storage/refrigeration of the blood
- Giving the patient contaminated blood
- Giving the patient too much blood
- Giving the patient too little blood
- Giving the patient the wrong blood type
These errors are often caused by incorrect patient registration, application of the wrong label on the blood bag, blood drawn from the wrong patient, an overworked and understaffed nursing team, computer errors, and other administrative mistakes.
Contact a Philadelphia Blood Transfusion Error Lawyer Today
Blood transfusions are meant to save lives and improve the recovery and health of an already vulnerable patient. A slight mistake, such as giving the patient the wrong amount or type of blood, can have devastating consequences. If you or a loved one were the victim of a healthcare provider’s negligence, our Philadelphia blood transfusion lawyers here at The Villari Firm can help you hold the appropriate party financially accountable. Call us today at 215-372-8889 for a free consultation.
