Blood transfusion has saved countless lives. At the same time, blood transfusion can have deadly consequences if not performed correctly. If you or your loved one suffered damage from a blood transfusion error, contact our medical malpractice team for help.

Errors in blood transfusion can occur in various ways. We will explore the main common reasons for blood transfusion errors.

After reading why blood transfusion mistakes occur and if you notice that these issues might have taken place, our law firm is here to assist with blood transfusion failures.

Reach out to our law firm as we help in preventing blood transfusion failures by keeping healthcare professionals accountable for blood samples, blood collection, and overall patient safety.

• Unscreened blood transfusion

Unscreened blood transfusion can cause the transmission of deadly infections like HIV, hepatitis B and C, parasites, and bacterial infections.

Despite the risk associated with their unscreened blood transfusion, many facilities do not carry out proper screening, thereby putting recipients’ lives in danger. If this is the case for you or your loved ones, you deserve compensation from the liable party.

• Incompatible blood transfusion

Blood transfusion errors also happen when a patient receives incorrect blood. This mistake can happen in many ways. For instance, a blood sample can have the wrong patient’s name. As a result, the blood will be given to the wrong person. If the blood is incompatible with the patient’s blood, the patient will display signs of ABO incompatibility.

ABO incompatibility is a rare but deadly reaction. Although doctors and other medical professionals and facilities are aware of this danger, it still occurs.

We have explained how an incorrectly labeled blood sample can cause this. Another instance is when the blood sample has a wrong blood type marker. Many patients can only tolerate one type or certain types of blood. If they receive blood incompatible with their systems, they display ABO incompatibility reactions.

This error typically occurs in high-traffic areas like emergency rooms, where medical professionals attend to multiple patients simultaneously.

Some of the systems of incompatible blood transfusion are

• nausea
• jaundice
• muscle aches
• fever and chills
• blood in your urine
• breathing difficulties
• chest, abdominal, or back pain
• a strong feeling that something terrible is about to happen

Did you or your loved one experience any of these symptoms during a recent blood transfusion? If yes, you might have been a victim of blood transmission error. Call us for a free evaluation so you can learn the following steps to take.

• Unneeded blood transfusion

It is the job of doctors and physicians to determine if a patient needs a blood transfusion or not. Contrary to what many people think, blood transfusion is not the only option when a patient loses blood.

A patient should get a certain amount of blood before blood transfusion becomes the only option. However, many doctors ignore these standards and recommend blood transfusion at the first chance they get. They think they are playing it safe, but they are risking the lives of their patients.

Some of the adverse reactions that occur when you get unnecessary blood transfusions:

• Lung injury
• Infections
• Severe shortness of breath

If you received an unnecessary blood transfusion, you might be able to file a medical malpractice claim against the doctor or physician in charge.

• Excess blood transfusion

Blood transfusion errors also occur when the patient receives too much blood. Some symptoms associated with excess blood transfusion will also happen when the blood transfusion is necessary, but the patient gets more than they should.

There are also financial implications of unnecessary and excess blood transfusion. Unless the patient receives blood directly from a donor, blood transitions can cost thousands of doors for three or more pints.

• Improper blood transfusion process

Blood transfusion errors can occur when the nurses and other healthcare professionals make mistakes in the actual transfusion process.

There are many causes of this mistake. It could be that the healthcare professional was not paying attention when setting the transfusion. Such negligence can cause bubbles or clotting to form in the blood and cause grave consequences for the recipients.

It could also be that the person administering the transfusion does not have sufficient training and experience. In this case, the facility is at fault for not providing enough training and supervision.

• Poor blood storage

Blood transfusion can come from a blood bank or an on-site donor. Blood banks must store blood at specific temperatures. Not following the recommended temperature can cause catastrophic reactions.

Who is liable for a blood transfusion error claim?

The liable party depends on the circumstances of the case. The responsible party may include one, some, or all of the following:

• The staff involved in the blood transfusion process
• The medical facility
• The blood bank
• The medical doctor in charge of your case
• Insurance providers

Suspect blood transfusion error? Talk to a medical malpractice lawyer without paying a dime!

If you suspect you or your loved one has been a victim of a blood transfusion error or mistake, contact us for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

Our lawyers are available to speak with you and review the facts regarding your case. If you have suffered any damage due to blood transfusion or medical malpractice, they will take up your case and fight to the end.

We understand the importance of laboratory medicine and the value of following the proper processes when processing red blood cells, patient identification, and accounting for blood clotting, patient safety, and transfusion reactions.

The best transfusion practices can lead to great patient outcomes and our law offices ensure to conduct our part in keeping healthcare professionals accountable. The right risk assessment can contribute to a safer health system, and assist with disease control measures.