Blood Contamination Injuries

Blood contamination injuries can lead to serious, even deadly consequences. If you or a loved one has suffered blood contamination injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers can assess the merits of your case and advise you on your legal rights accordingly. While we aim to settle each case with an appropriate amount for our client, we are ready to vigorously advocate for your rights in the courtroom if this proves necessary to get the compensation that you deserve.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every 1 in 1,000-3,000 units of blood platelets may be tainted with bacteria, making blood contamination the most likely source of transfusion-related infections. When blood is contaminated, the body can develop an infection, like sepsis. Sepsis due to contaminated transfusions has been shown to affect at least 1 in every 100,000 blood product recipients, although many people believe that these cases are underreported. Blood may become contaminated in many ways involving someone’s failure to follow procedures designed to prevent contamination. Some common causes of blood contamination injuries include:

• A surgical instrument not being properly washed or sterilized;
• Blood not being properly stored or protected in a blood bank;
• Improper screening of donors;
• Improper dialysis procedures;
• Mislabelled blood samples;
• Surgical errors involving blood work; or
• Blood being exposed to bacteria.

There are strict procedures and protocols dictating the protection of blood supply in the medical field. Thus, if blood does become contaminated, it is typically a result of someone’s negligence. If you or a family member were harmed by receiving contaminated blood because of a medical professional’s negligence, you may be able to make a claim for compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit. Medical malpractice takes place when a medical professional violates the applicable standard of care, causing injuries or death to a patient. The standard of care refers to the level of care that a reasonably competent medical professional would have used under the same or similar circumstances. In addition to a medical professional, a hospital may be liable for malpractice as well.

Receiving contaminated blood can be potentially devastating. A patient may experience further injuries from contaminated blood or may contract a potentially deadly illness. For this reason, Maryland law allows victims of medical malpractice to recover a wide range of damages, such as medical bills, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, and any other losses arising from the negligence. Each case is different, and the specific dollar amount that you will be entitled to receive will vary depending on the injury suffered.

In Maryland, there are clear rules concerning the statute of limitations for filing medical malpractice claims. Generally speaking, a victim of medical malpractice must file their claim within five years from the date of the injury or three years from the discovery of the injury, whichever is earlier. Allowing the statute of limitations to expire usually has harsh consequences for a victim. Unless an exception applies, the victim will likely permanently lose his or her ability to file a claim. If the victim files a lawsuit past the statute of limitations, the defendant can ask the court to dismiss the case. Therefore, it is critical to work with an attorney who will be vigilant about timelines in your case.

If you have suffered harm due to blood contamination, you need a legal professional on your side. Our injury lawyers can examine the facts of your case and help you pursue the damages that you are entitled to receive as a result of the negligence. At Arfaa Law Group, we understand how traumatizing it can be to suffer a medical injury, and we will handle your case with the utmost compassion. Our firm represents patients and their families in Baltimore and throughout the state of Maryland. For a free case evaluation, call us at 410-889-1850 or contact us online.