My mother contracted Hepatitis C from a blood transfusion a few months ago. Can she sue?

It has pissed me off royally, especially because I thought they screened for Hep B, C, Aids and syphilis . She is in very bad condition, the doctors gave her a 50/50 chance of survival.

Just so you all know, she was in the hospital for liver problems because of her alcoholism which is why it's even worse that her blood transfusion was tainted. Compound her already suffering liver with Hep C and it's like putting more nails on the coffin)

I don't think so, because most hospitals have the patient or the power of attourny sign a consent saying they agree to the blood, and it is not 100% safe of communicable disease. There is still a small chance you can contract something even when blood is tested. You should check to see if there was a blood consent signed.

Yes she can

And should.

I would contact a lawyer. I believe she could sue. Most lawyers will give you a free consultation and will take their fees from the winnings. It will probably be settled out of court so you probably won't have to worry about that. But, I would definitely contact a lawyer and see what my options are. I am so sorry this happened to your mother.

Really sorry hearing that.
The answer is yes.
But they should have started treatment as soon as possible by anti viral drugs.
Gutebesserung.

i agree with penny, its like a 'small print' when you consent to have blood products. im really sorry to hear about your problem.

Your mom has probably had hep c for many years. That's one of the things that makes hep c (HCV) so dangerous; people can have it for years, even decades before they are diagnosed or start to have symptoms. The liver is a very tough organ and will withstand a lot of damage (called fibrosis) before it starts to show symptoms. Add alcohol to the mix, and it speeds up the fibrosis to cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, or end stage liver disease (ESLD). It is unlikely that your mom got hep c from a recent blood transfusion since the blood supply has been tested since 1992.
The best thing you mom can do is to quit drinking and have her sobriety efforts documented (rehab & AA meetings), and then go for a transplant evaluation. I know many people who have been transplanted and they are doing wonderfully; back to living life, working, etc. But the transplant centers won't touch you unless you show that you're going to take care of that precious liver. Best wishes to you & your mom.

I'm so sorry to hear, but......your mother had hcv infection long before she went into the hospital. Those who are alcoholics often do not know their hcv status and drinking will certainly make one end up in the hospital....decades later after infection. Alcohol makes HCV more virulent and causes damage much faster.

As you know, the blood supply is much more safe these days, however, if someone donates blood, they aren't always honest about recent exposure. The blood supply does wait the allotted time to test the blood months after donation. Chances are the donation your mother received was 100% clear of disease.

HCV does not usually cause acute infection and when it does it is mimicks the flu in about 95% of those who recenlty were exposed.

HCV is not detectable to many doctors because of the alt and ast levels. they can flucuate, be normal or chronically high in those with hcv infection. Chances are when your mother previously had check ups, and they ran a standard liver panel, nothing was indicative of hcv infection.

Your mother can try to sue, but if you let the American Red Cross or the place that had donated the blood know, they will pull the lot and test it. Chances are it will come out void of HCV infection..

Out of the 85% that become chronically infected, they have had HCV for decades.....not months.

If your mom tested with high alt and ast levels, the doctor was probably thinking that the alcoholism was to blame. Most doctors look at someone an can never tell they are infected.

I thought I could sue the United States Government for giving me hcv at a very young age- 8. However, truth is, I had my first symptom at 9 which is almost a decade, so honestly it could of been my very first eye surgery at age 8 months- back when sterilization methods were not always followed throughly.

You didn't say how old your mother is, but chances are she is in an age group that has a high concentration of those with HCV. If she ever was involved in a jetshot gun innoculation (kids as well as service members) ever saw a dentist prior to 1995 (or any surgery) chances are thats when she got hcv.

As for adding more nails to the coffin? She's been doing that regardless of her hcv infection that you think she just acquired.

Many of those with undiagnosed HCV often self medicate because no one "understood" how she felt. HCV sucks and thats putting it lightly. Many of us were simply told we were depressed and all of our side effects were from depression. Come to find out it was a virus- which causes all sorts of diseases- not just liver disease. It causes skin rashes, hair loss, heart palpitations, thyroid disease, mental disease as well as a host of other gastrointestinal diseases. (there are over 150 bi-directional diseases associated with hcv) and most doctors who are unaware of the causative factor often try to treat them as seperate diseases.

I wish you well.

EXTREMELY unlikely that she got HCV from a blood transfusion in america in 2008 given ALL blood is screened by ELISA up front and then confirmatory screened with PCR, the most specific test in the world. Chances are less than 1 in 1 million, in fact there has not been a reported case of transfusion associated HCV in the US since 1994. MUCH, MUCH more likely she got HCV somewhere else. HCV is common in alcoholics as they have other risk factors for HCV. Even if she got HCV from a transfusion, it is protected by law in most states.