Blood Transfusion Negligence Claims Guide – How Much Compensation Can I Claim?
By Daniel Archer. Last Updated 26th August 2022. This is our updated guide to claims for blood transfusion negligence.
Blood transfusion anaemia errors are just one of the many complications that can happen when a blood transfusion is not carried out correctly. Such incidents are rare but very serious. They can cause lung problems, kidney failure, and sometimes they can be life-threatening – a frightening thought if you’re in need of a blood transfusion yourself. This is why it is so important that you get the compensation you deserve if you have been the victim of this form of medical negligence, or indeed any other. Here at Legal Expert, we have many years of experience in the personal claims world and we have helped many people to get the compensation they deserve for a vast array of incidents, including blood transfusions gone wrong. We can also help with claims for contaminated blood transfusions.
We have a great reputation, and you can reach us on 0800 073 8804 for more information. But, before you do so, please read on, as we have put together a complete and thorough guide on blood transfusion claims. We think you may find it interesting reading.
Select A Section
- A Guide To Blood Transfusion Negligence Claims
- What Is A Blood Transfusion?
- Why Is A Blood Transfusion Needed?
- What Can Go Wrong With A Blood Transfusion?
- Blood Transfusion Claims Due To Contaminated Blood
- Blood Transfusion Claims Due To The Wrong Blood Type Being Given
- Blood Transfusion Claims Due To Fluid Overload
- Long-Term Consequences Caused By Transfusion Errors
- What Can You Claim For?
- Blood Transfusion Negligence – How Do I Claim?
- Blood Transfusion Compensation Claims Calculator
- No Win No Fee Blood Transfusion Negligence Claims
- Why You Should Make Your Blood Transfusion Claim With Us?
- Speak To Legal Expert Today
- Resources And Useful Links
A Guide To Blood Transfusion Negligence Claims
Blood transfusion claims
If you have had a blood transfusion, you expect the procedure to go to plan and for it to help you feel better. However, if there are any mistakes made during the blood transfusion, the impact can be life-threatening. If you have suffered because of medical negligence in this regard, there is a very high chance you will be entitled to personal injury compensation. In this guide, we will reveal everything you need to know about blood transfusion claims. This includes information on the different blood transfusion types, blood transfusion recovery, whether or not you are entitled to compensation, blood transfusion side effects, and how much compensation you could receive. If you still have any queries by the time you get to the end of the guide, you will find our contact details. We are open seven days per week so please do not hesitate to give us a call about your blood transfusion negligence claim.
What Is A Blood Transfusion?
Let’s take a look at a blood transfusion definition before we go into further details about these claims. The term ‘blood transfusion’ refers to a procedure whereby blood is taken from one person and given to another individual. This tends to happen for a number of different medical reasons. It could be, for example, to treat a newborn with a condition like severe jaundice. Other blood transfusion reasons include treat illnesses, for example, haemophilia, liver disease, bone marrow failure, and sickle cell disease, as well as compensating for dangerous levels of blood loss. Learn more about claims for contaminated blood transfusions by contacting our team.
Why Is A Blood Transfusion Needed?
Blood transfusions tend to be linked with replacing the loss of blood after a serious accident. However, they can be required in many different incidents. For example, they can also replace blood loss during childbirth and major surgery. They can also be used to treat patients that have blood disorders, for example, sickle cell anaemia, as well as those who are severely anaemic.
If you have been harmed due to blood transfusion negligence or contaminated blood transfusions, our team could help you.
What Can Go Wrong With A Blood Transfusion?
While most blood transfusions are a success, there are a number of different things that can go wrong if mistakes are made and the blood transfusion is not carried out properly. This includes the following:
- Blood transfusion mistakes caused during the administration due to lack of attention or care
- Giving a blood transfusion to the wrong patient
- Carrying out a blood transfusion when it was not needed
- Giving infected blood to a patient
- Giving the wrong type of blood to a patient
If you believe you have had a blood transfusion that was carried out negligently, contact us today to find out more about blood transfusion claims.
Blood Transfusion Claims Due To Contaminated Blood
We can help you to secure compensation if you have suffered an illness because of contaminated blood. Before donating, every blood donor is screened for the risk of exposure to infection. All blood is then tested in a laboratory to make sure there are no blood-borne infections. If there are any errors in this process, the impact could be fatal. It is also vital that all donated blood is kept in an environment that is sterile so that there is not the development of any bacterial contamination. In particular, platelet donations are very vulnerable to contamination because they must be stored at room temperature.
If an individual has been given contaminated blood during a transfusion, they may start to notice sepsis/blood poisoning symptoms. Situations like this most certainly give rise to a blood transfusion negligence claim.
Blood Transfusion Claims Due To The Wrong Blood Type Being Given
We have also helped people to claim when they have been given the wrong blood type for them. To stop this from happening, there must be an immediate test of the patient’s blood before they receive a transfusion. The patient must be given a wristband that displays their blood type, and this needs to be checked prior to each new bag of blood being transfused. If there are errors here, you can definitely claim. Other errors that can be made during the blood transfusion procedure include the patient being incorrectly identified or the blood being labelled incorrectly at the laboratory. Your immune system may start to attack your blood cells in a reaction to being given the wrong blood type. This is known as a haemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR). Such reactions do not always happen immediately, they can take a few days or even a week.
Some of the symptoms of these reactions to look out for include the following:
- Flushing of the skin
- Flank pain
- Fever
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Chills
- Bloody urine
- Back pain
Complications like this can result in serious illnesses and injuries for the patient. This includes shock, lung problems, anaemia, and acute kidney failure.
Blood Transfusion Claims Due To Fluid Overload
We can also assist with cases because of fluid overload. In fact, in the UK in 2013, there were 34 cases reported of blood transfusion fluid overloads. This is when too much blood is transfused into the person’s body in a certain amount of time, which means their body cannot cope with all of the blood. This is severe, as it can cause heart failure because the body is not able to pump enough blood around. Other issues include problems breathing and swelling throughout the body. This is more common in people who have a lower body weight, existing health conditions, and the frail or elderly.
Contact us today about making a blood transfusion negligence claim.
Long-Term Consequences Caused By Transfusion Errors
The way in which a person is impacted via a transfusion error differs from individual to individual. However, there are some serious and lifelong complications and consequences that can arise. This is especially the case if someone is given blood that is contaminated with the likes of HIV or Hepatitis. In fact, although rare, there are incidents whereby transfusion mistakes have been fatal. From kidney failure to heart failure, from breathing problems to psychological issues, no matter what has happened to you, it is vital that you launch a claim and get the compensation you deserve for what has happened. Such errors cannot be excused and you deserve a payout.
What Can You Claim For?
It is imperative to establish the fact that there are two types of personal injury claims payouts– general damages and special damages. You can find an explanation of both below:
General damages – This is the amount of money you will receive to compensate you for your injuries and help you through the recovery phase. It is calculated using the medical report that is provided by your doctor. This report states your injuries, medical diagnosis, and the treatment plan that has been advised, highlighting why it is imperative to see a medical professional if you want to make a claim.
Special damages – Special damages are designed to compensate you for any out of pocket costs you have experienced as a result of your injuries. After all, why should you have to pay for the likes of hospital parking and medication when someone else is responsible for your suffering? To give you a better idea of what special damages are, let’s take a look at some common examples:
- Medical costs – If you have been injured, there is a very high chance you will have prescription and treatment costs.
- Loss of earnings – A lot of people find themselves in a position where they are unable to work during the recovery process. If this applies to you, you will be able to claim for the money lost.
- Childcare expenses – A lot of people need to hire a childminder to look after their children while they recover.
Blood Transfusion Negligence – How Do I Claim?
If you have been injured due to blood transfusion negligence, then there are a few steps you’ll need to take in order to claim. The first is to inform those responsible for the negligence that you intend to claim against them. This would not be the person who administered the blood transfusion, but their employer instead. This could be the manager or the organisation that owns the hospital.
You’ll also need to gather evidence in order to receive blood transfusion compensation. This can take the form of documents such as your medical records.
If you’ve suffered due to issues with a blood transfusion, you are not obligated to hire a solicitor to make a claim. However, doing so can be helpful. Our No Win No Fee lawyers can answer any questions you may have during the claim, as well as help you through every step of the process.
It’s also important to be aware that you do have a general time limit of 3 years from the date your health was affected in which to start a claim. This is established in the Limitation Act 1980. However, some scenarios can result in this time limit being expended. Claims involving children, for instance, can call into this category.
For more information, get in touch with our advisors today.
Blood Transfusion Compensation Claims Calculator
You may have used a personal injury claims calculator online already to try and find out how much compensation you are going to receive. Please note that these calculators only ever provide a very rough estimate, and so you should not pin your hopes on them. Actually, it is simply not possible to tell you how much compensation you are going to receive until you receive it. This is because all cases are evaluated individually to ensure that the right amount of compensation is awarded. However, you can use the table below to find more information about the average compensation for contaminated blood victims based on some of the most common injuries sustained, i.e. lung and kidney damage.
| The type of injury that has been sustained: | Some extra notes about this injury or illness: | The typical payout amount: |
|---|---|---|
| Kidney problems | Loss of one kidney where there is no damage to the other kidney. | £30,770 to £44,880 |
| Kidney problems | This is where there is complete loss of natural kidney function, or there could be a considerable risk of urinary tract infection in the future. | Up to £63,980 |
| Kidney problems | Permanent and serious damage. This can also include loss of both kidneys. | £169,400 to £210,400 |
| Lung disease | Recovery within a few months. | £2,200 to £5,320 |
| Lung disease | The extent of anxiety is one factor considered here. | £5,320 to £18,090 |
| Lung disease | No impact on working life. Permanent recovery within a couple of years. | £10,640 to £20,800 |
| Lung disease | Little impact on social / working life. | £20,800 to £31,310 |
| Lung disease | Breathing difficulties. Person will need to regularly use an inhaler. | £31,310 to £54,830 |
| Lung disease | Worsening and significant problems with lung function. Restriction in terms of employment and physical activity. Frequent and prolonged coughing, and breathing impaired. | £54,830 to £70,030 |
| Lung disease | Quality of life and function impaired significantly. Severe pain. | £70,030 to £97,330 |
| Lung disease | Leads to premature death. | £100,670 to £135,920 |
Hopefully, you now feel like you have a better understanding of the level of compensation you could be looking at. Nevertheless, if you do have any further queries or you cannot find your illness or injury in the table above, please do not hesitate to get in touch and we will happily assist.
No Win, No Fee Blood Transfusion Negligence Claims
One of the main reasons so many people turn to our service is because all of the solicitors we can connect you with work on a No Win, No Fee basis. This is one of the easiest ways to make blood transfusion negligence claims. This presents you with all of the following benefits:
- No huge upfront payment is required to begin the personal injury claims process.
- Financial risk is minimised – This is because you will only pay legal fees if your case is a success.
- Better service – Payment is performance-related, and therefore you can be sure that your solicitors will do all in their power to secure the full amount of compensation. Can you be sure that this is the case if you go for a solicitor that works to a traditional payment structure?
- No time wasting – If we don’t think your case is strong enough, we will tell you.
Why You Should Make Your Blood Transfusion Claim With Us?
Of course, there are many law firms to choose from today, but we are confident that you will struggle to find a better company for your claim than Legal Expert. This is because we boast three key ingredients, and these are as follows:
- Experience – First and foremost, we have a considerable amount of experience in the industry. You want to be safe in the knowledge that the company has carried out their service successfully many, many times before, and that they have dealt with cases of a similar nature to yours. You can be confident this is the case when you choose Legal Expert.
- Reputation – It is always a good idea to read reviews that have been left by previous clients. If a law firm has a bad reputation, you can rest assured that there will be plenty of negative opinions on the Internet warning you not to use their services. You will never see such feedback with Legal Expert. We are the number one choice for personal injury claims for many claimants throughout the UK.
- No Win, No Fee – Last but not least, it is imperative to go for a company whereby their solicitors work on a No Win, No Fee You basically only foot the bill if your case is a success, and thus it offers you a degree of financial security. Not only this, but you are much more likely to benefit from a better service because the solicitor is going to be impacted by the outcome of your case. You can discover more about our No Win, No Fee service in the former paragraph.
Speak To Legal Expert Today
If you want to know more about blood transfusion negligence claims, or you are ready to get started, you can get in touch with Legal Expert today on 0800 073 8804. This will take you to our personal injury claims line and you can speak to one of our friendly advisors. You can then discuss your contaminated blood compensation claim. contaminated blood transfusions
This line is open from 9.00 a.m. until 9.00 p.m. every day of the week. If you would like to get in touch with us via email or a different channel, our contact page has all of the information you need.
Resources And Useful Links
We hope this guide on blood transfusion negligence claims has been helpful for you. But if you are looking for some further information, we would be more than happy to assist. Here are some resources and links to help you get started:
Negligence in a medical setting
This link takes you to our guide on clinical and medical negligence claims, which is likely what you are going to be filing when making a blood transfusion claims.
Transfusions – NHS information
You can use this link, which takes you to the NHS website, to find out more about blood transfusions. You will discover why they are carried out, what happens, the risks, alternatives, and so on.
This is the NHS Blood and Transplant resource where you can learn more about blood transplants and blood transfusions.
In this updated guide you can learn more about claiming compensation for harm caused by negligent blood tests.
In our updated guide to hospital negligence claims, you can learn more about how to claim compensation for harmful hospital care.
Our guide explains how you could potentially claim for laser hair removal burns caused by negligent actions.
Blood Transfusion Negligence FAQs
What Are The Precautions For Blood Transfusion?
NHS and private medical services take a number of precautions to reduce or prevent the risk of contaminated blood transfusions. The main risk of having a blood transfusion is that you are accidently given the wrong type of blood.
Clinical staff will carry out ID checks to make sure and confirm you are the correct patient and that records are correct. They will ask for your name and date of birth. This will be checked against your name band and other information.
During the transfusion itself, staff will monitor you. They will check your pulse and heart rate, your breathing, your body temperature and your blood pressure. They will also ask how you feel.
Blood Transfusion Negligence Statistics
The risks of contracting an illness or disease from a contaminated blood transfusion are very low.
- The risk of contracting Hepatitis B from contaminated blood is lower than 1 in 1.3 million.
- There is a lower than 1 in 28 million risk of contracting Hepatitis C.
- The risk of contracting HIV is lower than 1 in 65 million.
Source – Guys And St Thomas Blood Transfusion Information.
What Happens During A Blood Transfusion?
Blood transfusions should be simple procedures. During the procedure, the blood is given through to you through a drip. The drip will be placed in a vein in your arm. Once the transfusion is complete, the drip will be removed. How much blood you will be given will depend on how much blood you need to provide you with enough blood and haemoglobin.
