Blood donor sues Red Cross for malpractice over donation jab
A Hopedale man alleges that poor needlework by a Red Cross worker at a blood-donation drive, coupled with bad followup medical advice from the Red Cross, has left him with permanent, excruciating pain that now keeps him from doing much of anything.
In a lawsuit, originally filed in Middlesex Superior Court but recently transferred to US District Court in Boston, John J. Fitzgerald says his trouble started at a blood drive at the Hopkinton Congregational Church on Feb. 24, 2009. An employee identified only as "Jane Doe" prepped him and inserted the needle, but another worker noticed bruising - a sign of internal bleeding - stopped the blood taking and said the needle had been put in "too far."
Fitzgerald said the Ace bandage and ice pack workers gave him did little to staunch the increasing pain and tenderness; nor did the hot soaks he said the Red Cross told him to apply when he called help. Still in pain a few weeks later, he saw a variety of physicians, who said the bleeding in his arm had damaged his nerves and resulted in "severe, debilitating pain, known as complex regional pain syndrome."
"His pain is severe and prevents him from engaging in any activities," his complaint alleges.
The Red Cross has yet to respond to the suit.
Comments
A really bad jab
I've worked in this business in the past. That has to have been a really bad jab to cause this.
nerve damage
I gave blood at a blood drive at work through a local hospital. When the needle was inserted my arm was in pain and felt like it was on fire. I told the guy who said he must of went in too far and hit the wall of the vein. I ended up at my primary care doctors office a week later because of the pain in my arm. I got nerve damage in my arm..it's gotten better but i can still feel it from time to time. I told the hospital about what happened and they told me there was nothing they could do. I figured they would at least pay for the co-payments for seeing my primary care doctor and neurologist to get a Electromyogram. I've given blood many times before and never had an issue so i was surprised when this happened.
common sense?
too many questions here.
- after getting home and being in pain and noticing bleeding, he calls the Red Cross and not a doctor?
- He waits several WEEKS in CONSTANT PAIN before actually calling a doctor?
Those needles aren't that big - what could they have hit to cause an un-healing hematoma that bled for weeks???
Red Cross common sense, to Johnmc from the other JohnMc
I am pretty sure that when you leave they hand you some paperwork that tells you to call ARC if you have a problem. So that part at least, was not unreasonable. I have not donated in about 3 years because I was kind of sore for 2 weeks after my last donation. I never had a problem at a hospital based donor center or at the ARC in Dedham but I have had a couple of "iffy" sticks when I donated at a local nonprofit. I definitely wondered if ARC sent their "B team" to these events.
Actually, the needles have to have a larger bore to allow passage of the red blood cells than a needle for an injection, so if one perforated an artery with more internal pressure than a vein, or if the vein was gouged up, I could easily understand a hematoma developing if adequate pressure was not applied.
As for waiting 2 weeks in constant pain, some people (not me I'm a wimp!) will sometimes convince themselves that the pain is improving with passage of time or otc meds or whatever.
sort of a long winded 2 cents but there ya go!
Nerve Damage also...
This is not true. I attempted to donate recently and I had a similar experience. The woman inserted the needle and it felt like fire traveled down my arm. I now have numbness in my arm. The woman call for assistance from a co-worker who came over and helped her clean up the blood. After cleaning was finished, they wrapped my arm in the red adhesive ace bandage and sent me on my way.
Immediately, I went to the ER. Was told that there was nothing that could be done, was not even certain that the injury would resolve.
I was not give any type of documentation by the Red Cross; I was just told that they could not take my donation and ushered me out of the area.
Three weeks, later, I received a call asking me to call in re: the incident. I called the number and was given a fax number and address where I was told to fax or mail my medical bills.
What should I do?
I gave blood a while back and the lady hurt me even before she stuck me with the needle. She was extremely rough and then when she did stick me I almost wanted to scream. I have given blood many times before and it always went great for me and not really even hurt but this time was way different. She saw me in pain and asked me what was wrong and I told her that it hurts really bad and all she said was that it would be over in a minute. Then after it was over she didnt even wrap it up right. I was in so much pain I couldnt use my arm at all for 4 days. I got a bruise on my arm the size of a baseball and that lasted 2 weeks. My arm burns and it still gives me trouble. I cant pick up anything heavy without being in extreme pain. I have a 3 1/2 year old little boy so I am always in pain. It is my right arm and I am right handed so that doesnt help anything. I dont know what to do. I dont have insurance so I cant even afford to go to the dr. I thought that the pain might just fade away but it doesnt. I think I am just going to have to go to the emergency room. I would like for them to pay for the bills if I get any I just dont know what to do. Can you help me?
when one donates Blood
after successful donation, the red cross provides a "what if" sheet.. what if It bleeds and I cant stop it? dizzy, faint, etc etc.. and Ia m sure anything serious includes calling Your or a doctor... I have donated over the last couple years quite a few times Going Back a few years though I'd Stopped after it took one of my own Paramedics to get the vein after 6 workers couldn't .. Things Can happen, and the younger you are the easier and quicker you recover,.. In this case , it seems Far fetched but hardly impossible.. and if your those folks that has issue with "money" the red cross supposedly makes, Maybe you think scamming them with a lawsuit will seat you at the right hand of god, But In reality it won't (and people seem to NOT realize that everytime we have a fire The red cross shelters and feeds and often clothes victims, and The red cross was In Japan and haiti and New Orleans and Mississippi and florida befor that and the tsunami and it goes on and on they Might even help you someday again