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You are in: Home Page | Personal Injury | Medical Negligence Claims | Clinical Negligence Articles and Clinical Negligence Factsheets | Blood Transfusions

July 2010

Blood Transfusions

What are blood transfusions?

Blood transfusions involve taking blood from one person and giving it to another.

A cannula (small plastic tubing) is inserted into a vein (typically one in the arm) which is in turn connected to a drip. The drip transports the blood from a bag and into the arm.

Usually, it is not the whole blood that is transfused but just certain elements of it (such as red blood cells, platelets or plasmas). The type of transfer depends upon what the blood is needed for, although the most common type of transfer is the transfer of red blood cells.

When might one be required?

Many people will require blood transfusions at some point in their lives, most commonly to replace acute and significant blood loss as a result of operations, accidents, injuries or even childbirth.

Those with certain chronic medical conditions, such as sickle cell anaemia and leukaemia, may also require transfusions to be undertaken as part of a treatment process.

As medicine has progressed, the need for blood transfusions has reduced somewhat over the last few years. Occasionally, blood transfusions are still given where they do not need to be. Viable alternatives should always be considered and, where ever practicable and safe, used as an alternative, given the inherent risks that accompany blood transfusions.

What safeguards should there be in place?

The NHS advises that it is essential for all patients due to receive a blood transfusion to wear an identification wrist band. Patients should also be asked to verbally confirm their fully name and date of birth. Prior to each new bag of blood being transfusion, each patient’s identification badge should be re-checked.

The patient’s blood will also need to be tested pre-transfusion to ensure that a compatible blood group is being used.

What are the risks?

According to www.nhs.uk, the majority of people do not experience any sensation or discomfort whilst undergoing a blood transfusion.

However, the NHS website cautions that some people may experience ‘a mild temperature, chills or rash’ which can usually be treated by slowing the transfusion, or by providing paracetamol. This is a recognised complication of undergoing a blood transfusion and usually can not be prevented.

The NHS cautions that the biggest risk related to blood transfusions is being given the wrong blood and the standard procedures in place (as detailed above) are designed to minimise the risk of this. Being given the wrong type of blood during a blood transfusion is almost always considered to be negligent practice.

There is also a risk of infection, although this is very low as donated blood is systematically checked and screened prior to transfusion. Included in the list of possible, recognised infections are HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Patients should be advised, so far as possible, of the risk of infection prior to commencing transfusion treatment.  

What can happen when mistakes are made?

Often the most comment indication that something may have gone wrong includes experiencing chills, fever, backache, hives and itching.

More seriously, blood cell destruction (hemolysis) can occur, which may result in shortness of breath, severe headaches, chest or back pain and blood in the urine.

In severe cases, death may result.

Example of a recent case Thompsons has settled

Master X contracted Hepatitis C (genotype 1A) within the first few weeks of his life from infected blood products. Unfortunately, he was not responsive to a 6 month combined treatment regime following this, and a claim for the contraction of Hepatitis C was made during his childhood. His claim was settled for the sum of £23,000 in 2002 on a provisional basis, which left him with the right to return and apply for further compensation, should certain events specified in the settlement materialise.

Master X and his family approached Thompsons in 2007 after a liver biopsy in 2006 revealed that he would require pegalated interferon treatment, combined with Ribavirin tablets, over a 12 month period in order to eliminate the virus from his blood system. During this treatment period, Master X experienced emotional mood swings, along with physical side effects such as headaches, ‘flu like feelings, constant tiredness and fainting episodes. He also developed an unpleasant rash, sensitivity to light and hallucinations

Master X was forced to miss a considerable period of school and his college attendance was delayed as a result. His intended career progression within the field of sport and fitness was also consequently delayed as a result of the side effects of the treatment he required.

Master X (an adult by the conclusion of his claim) is now considered cured as a result of the treatment regime and medically it is unlikely that he will experience a remission of the disease, or any of the long term complication expected from it.

A settlement of £16500 was ultimately agreed in respect of this further need for treatment and the unfortunate side effects that accompanied it.

The Skipton Fund

In March 2004, a scheme known as the Skipton fund was established by the Department of Health. The scheme is designed to make payments to certain people who have been infected with hepatitis C as a result of NHS blood treatment.

It is important to note that the infection must have occurred before September 1991 in order to be eligible for the scheme. Additionally, no payments will be made to those who have died before 29th August 2003, or to people who cleared the virus spontaneously during the acute phase of the disease.

For those people who do fall within the ambit of the scheme, a first stage payment of £20,000 is typically available. For those who have successfully reached the first stage of payment and whose infection has led to advanced liver disease, there is also the option of a second stage payment of £25,000.

Payments can be made to the estate of a deceased patient, if an eligible patient dies prior to obtaining a payment from the Fund.

If you feel that this fund may be relevant to you, further information can be obtained from the official website: www.skiptonfund.org/Eng/index.html

Compensation Claim Advice

If you are concerned that yourself or somebody close to you may have suffered from a negligently performed blood transfusion, or that appropriate treatment has not been provided following a transfusion, please do not hesitate to contact us for further advice.

Thompsons Solicitors have years of experience in dealing with cases involving clinical negligence.

If you or anyone you know has suffered from any form of clinical negligence, telephone us now for accurate personal injury claim advice.

There are strict time limits in place to make any personal injury compensation claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.

Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all matters relating to clinical negligence and will be able to advise you as to whether or not you have a valid personal injury claim for compensation. Our specialist clinical negligence lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have.

Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.