A blood transfusion malpractice suit has been filed in Illinois after an allegedly negligent blood transfusion led to the wrongful death of the woman. Learn more about the case, and about how a negligent blood transfusion can lead to serious injury or even death, below.
Blood Transfusion Malpractice Suit Filed in Illinois
The lawsuit filed by the woman’s estate alleges that she was given Type A blood in a blood transfusion, but she had Type B blood. Due to the incompatibility of the two blood types, the woman experienced serious complications and pain and suffering, leading to her death on the same day the transfusion took place.
"The plaintiff alleges that the medical negligence included the failure to properly communicate between the blood bank and the nursing staff at the hospital, the failure to follow proper protocols and procedures that would have avoided the improper blood transfusion, the hospital’s failure to provide safeguards that would have prevented clerical errors that led to the woman’s fatal injuries, and negligently transfusing the woman with the wrong type of blood," according to medicalmalpracticelawyers.com.
Blood Types and Transfusions
Blood transfusions must be performed with the right blood type. If the wrong type of blood is transfused, the antigens on the red blood cells will be incompatible and trigger an immune response. This response is often severe and can result in serious injury or even death. Below is an overview of the blood types and their compatibility.
Blood Types and Compatibility
From the Red Cross:
There are four major blood groups determined by the presence or absence of two antigens - A and B - on the surface of red blood cells:
- Group A - has only the A antigen on red cells (and B antibody in the plasma)
- Group B - has only the B antigen on red cells (and A antibody in the plasma)
- Group AB - has both A and B antigens on red cells (but neither A nor B antibody in the plasma)
- Group O - has neither A nor B antigens on red cells (but both A and B antibody are in the plasma)
In addition to the A and B antigens, there is a third antigen called the Rh factor, which can be either present (+) or absent ( - ). In general, Rh negative blood is given to Rh-negative patients, and Rh positive blood or Rh negative blood may be given to Rh positive patients.
- The universal red cell donor has Type O negative blood type.
- The universal plasma donor has Type AB blood type.
Group O can donate red blood cells to any other group.
Group A can donate to A and AB.
Group B can donate to B and AB.
Group AB can donate to AB only.