Blood Transfusion Errors
Medical Malpractice Lawyers Representing Baltimore Patients and Families
While blood transfusions are sometimes necessary, they may be dangerous procedures if precise safety standards are not followed. Blood transfusion mistakes often have devastating, even deadly results for a patient. If you or someone in your family has been harmed by a blood transfusion error, it is important to speak to a skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can help you determine your options and next steps. At Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, we are committed to advocating on behalf of Maryland residents for the compensation that they deserve after suffering from health care negligence.
Seeking Compensation for a Blood Transfusion Error
Blood transfusion is the process of transferring the blood of one person into the veins of another person. Blood transfusions are typically performed with donated blood, and both the patient and the donor are tested to make sure that their blood types are a match. The blood is also tested to ensure that there are no blood-borne illnesses, such as HIV or AIDS. Some common types of blood transfusion errors include:
- Multiple blood samples being cross-matched;
- Lack of informed consent for a blood transfusion;
- Blood label errors;
- Improper storing of blood;
- Failing to verify the patient’s identity;
- Insufficient staffing levels; or
- Processing multiple samples at the same time.
If you have been a victim of a blood transfusion error, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against the health care provider that was responsible. Medical malpractice is defined as negligence by a health care provider that results in injuries or death to a patient. To establish a medical malpractice claim, an injured patient must show that the health care provider owed the patient a duty of care, the health care provider breached the duty of care owed to the patient, and the health care provider’s breach was the direct cause of the patient’s injury or harm. Quantifiable damages also must have arisen as a result. The duty of care refers to the obligation to act as another competent health care provider in the same specialty would act under the same or similar circumstances, treating a similar type of patient.
In the state of Maryland, an injured patient may seek economic and non-economic damages for their injuries. Economic damages typically include items like present and future medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages. Non-economic damages include compensation for the injury itself, pain and suffering, mental anguish, worry, anxiety, fear, post-traumatic stress, or scarring and disfigurement.
As with any other personal injury case, a medical malpractice claim must be filed within a certain time frame, known as the statute of limitations. Failing to file within the appropriate statute of limitations could mean losing your right to pursue legal action altogether. Thus, it is important to work with a lawyer who will be attentive to timelines in your case.
Discuss Your Medical Malpractice Case with a Baltimore Attorney
At Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, our Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers have the knowledge, skill, and determination to handle your blood transfusion error case. You can trust that we will make every effort to get the compensation that you deserve for your harm. We strongly believe in holding negligent parties accountable for the harm that they cause. We proudly represent people who need an injury attorney in Washington, D.C. and throughout Maryland, including in Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Rockville, Germantown, Bethesda, Upper Marlboro, Hyattsville, Bowie, Westminster, Eldersburg, and other areas of Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Carroll Counties. Call us at (800) 654-1949 or at (410) 654-3600, or contact us online to set up a free consultation.