Improper Blood Transfusion
Blood transfusions are a lifeline for patients who have lost a lot of blood in an accident or are suffering from a debilitating blood disease. When an individual receives a blood transfusion, he or she expects that the medical staff will perform the operation to the best of their abilities. While many transfusions save lives, others can go terribly wrong and harm the patient further. A simple mistake at any stage of the process could cause the transfusion to fail.
Risks to Patients
A blood transfusion must be performed precisely and without error in order for the patient to benefit and recover from his or her illness. Any time a patient receives a transfusion, he or she is at risk of experiencing the following errors:
- Receiving contaminated or expired blood
- Transfusion of the wrong blood type
- Poor needle handling, causing internal injury
Complications of an Improper Transfusion
When a transfusion goes wrong, the patient may not benefit at all from the operation and may actually suffer further complications. Blood must be properly tested and labeled to ensure that the patient receives clean blood of the correct type. If the blood is contaminated or old, the patient could contract a potentially deadly viral or bacterial infection.
Likewise, if the blood is the wrong type the patient’s body may reject it, causing multiple-organ failure and possibly death. Improper handling of the needle by medical staff could cause internal bleeding or other problems that further complicate the patient’s recovery.
Any error in a blood transfusion is a threat to the patient’s life. If you or someone you love has been harmed by an improper transfusion, the medical staff or hospital may be held liable and you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. If negligence can be proven, you may receive payment for costly medical bills, lost wages from time off of work, physical therapy, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.
Contact Us
For sound legal advice and assistance with your improper blood transfusion case, please contact experienced Austin personal injury lawyer Vic Feazell, P.C. today at 877-948-4842
