Blood Transfusion related Hepatitis C

[sbd5251]

I was wondering how many of the people on here got HCV from a blood transfusion?  In 1989 my daughter received a blood transfusion which resulted in HCV infection.   She died in 2004 and in trying to understand how this could have happened, I discovered that the blood supply in the United States is horrible.  I sued the Red Cross, who wanted to settle with me, which I did not do because I would have had to sign a confidentiality statement. The suit was dismissed because of a statute of limitations issue.  The Red Cross never understood that is was not about money it was about them cleaning up the blood supply.

[Princessbeth66]

In 1985 i got a blood transfusion and 5 years ago was told i have hep c. The transfusion was the only way i could of gotten it. What do i need to do to sue red cross?  Please help me.

[Dmmilt]

Thank you for the link. My brother maybe dying from Hep C. I found out recently about the tainted blood given out to millions. This is unacceptable!

[SusanJoyce]

I have been searching the internet to find out more information about the hospital's liability for contracting hepatitis C through blood transfusions. I had premature twins in 1985.  I objected to blood transfusions, so they petitioned the court for custody to transfuse twin baby A, they did not have legal authorization to transfuse twin baby B. I couldn't sleep one night, so my mother and I went to see the twins at 1:00 a.m. when I walked in they were transfusing twin baby B, he died two days later, I was told by the doctor that he died from a disease that was in the blood that shut down his kidneys.  The disease is found in elderly people and is on his death certificate. Twin baby A was transfused on a daily basis for five months.  It was hospital policy to transfuse a baby every time they took blood gases. At 24 my son went to donate blood for a free movie ticket, so he was compensated for his blood donation.  We then got a letter stating that he had Hepatitis C.  It's an amazing business that they can get a product for free and make such huge profits.  (However, I'm sure it costs something to process and store it which must be mimimal compared to the profits.)  My son went through interferon injections which after five months the build up of interferon in his system caused dillusions and hallucinations, so he was taken off interferon and admitted to a psycniatric hospital to stabilize him.  At the last test, there was no trace of the virus, however he is now uninsurable and keeps getting rejected by health insurance companies. I feel that the hospital should be held responsible for his medical care, for as long as he is rejected for heath insurance, and if he is finally accepted and can't afford it, they should still be responsible for his health care.  Even if the hospital did everything legally, and the blood was tested according to what was available at that time, the hospital should be held accountable for the results of the blood transfusions they administered.  I wrote a letter to the hospital informing them of this and requested that they take care of my son for this and they refused, even though they have all the resources. They allowed him to live this disease for 24 years.  They never mentioned that my son could get a blood born disease from transfusions, never mentioned that anyone who had blood transfusions should be tested yearly for blood born diseases, nothing.  When he was discharged I was told to go to an orthopedist and a pulmonologist.  Over the past 24 years, we've been back to that hospital and there is no flagging system, nothing at all, to notify patients who had blood transfusions to get tested for blood born diseases.  I believe it is a calculated risk on behalf of the hospital, similar to that of the insurance agencies.  How many people will they actually have to settle with versus how much profits they will utlimately make.  Furthermore, I keep getting rejected by attorneys to represent my son because there is a $100,000 cap and to them it's not worth the investment.  It's a business, all about money, and I know they have to be paid for their services, but to us, it's about making sure my son is medically taken care of.  I would like to sue this hospital for his medical care and can't find the government agency to at least file a complaint with.  

[sbd5251]

I kind of get down about this whole subject.  Seems like only a few people want me to stick with it.  They think I havent gotten over the death of Candace.  I havent and never will.  You never get over losing a child.  Hear a lot of negative comments about it.  But--then I get started all over again.  It is not right what the blood establishments are doing to Americans and getting away with it.  If youi would like to read the letter i wrote to my Congressional delegation, I will email it to any of you that wants it.  I am going to be a thorn in the side of the American Red Cross and anybody that will listen and some that dont want to listen until I get this "MESS" that is our blood supply cleaned up.  

[Princessbeth66]

Please send me the letter.

[blondie717]

I was wondering what happened to U, i had a glitch in my privilages. I feel anytime people are paid for their blood or plasma, it is bad...Lots of desperate people sell it for drugs or alcohol. the people who pay them get even more money for the product. and give desperate person a pittance for their possibly tainted, blood.. How many places do we go where we see people not doing their job? If its not given freely, than its not a gift of Love. Last night a person basically said, who would be in a study to find out of hep C could be passed during menstrual.  Only people I could think of is suasidal people..The same study could be done with the blood (cash cow) have 100 hep C positive persons sell it and see what they did (ofcourse yad have to hijack the crop to make sure it never got to the general population)

[sbd5251]

I officially started my fight today.  I sent letters to all three of my Congressional Delegation.  I am going to see what happens with this and  if i dont  gt a response from them I am going to flood the newspapers in the country with letters.  Also I a going to  have petitions that I would like to send to some of you to get signatures on to present to them.  I need your help for that.  If anyone is interested, please let me know.  Thanks.

[sbd5251]

I talked with my lawyer today and i have a letter that I am sending to my Congressional delegation because they have been no help for me.  He is willing to help any of you on here that he can.  If you have gotten hepatitis C in the past several years, he would like to know some of the details.  He will be glad to look at it and recommend a lawyer in your state. He will research the laws in your state to see if we can group all of you in one suit.  I believe that my congressional delegation will do nothing  The only way we are going to get them to make any changes is to hit the where it hurts----in the pocket.  I would be glad to post the letter that he and I wrote if anyone is interested.

[kittyface]

I'm so sorry you lost your daughter due to the irresponsible and negligent practices by the agency charged with our safety.  I received HCV from a 1982 blood transfusion and wasn't diagnosed for 25 years.  I share your outrage and am still frequently pissed off at the government for my past and present health problems.   Not productive but can't help it.

I have seen minutes of meetings between the FDA and Red Cross in 1969 stating that 10% of recipients were contracting a hepatitis yet the FDA did not require Red Cross to implement screening tests (liver enzyme panels) because they were too expensive ($2.39) and would decrease the donor pool!  Yet shortly after this the federal National Institute of Health screened THEIR blood but not the public's.  Unbelievable!   As for today only God and the Red Cross know what's circulating in the blood supply.  And you can bet they're not telling us!  I met someone who contracted HCV from a surgery in 2002.  

The same scenario occurred in Canada and the citizens received an apology and several thousand dollars in compensation.  In America nobody is accountable.  I was unsuccessful in locating an attorney to sue the responsible parties.  Please PM me and I'll do what I can to support your efforts.  I admire you for tackling this.

Kittyface

[Magnum]

You should always be an analogous donor (give your own blood before surgery).
Unfortunately, Medicare does not pay for that anymore. So, if you want to give your own blood, it's $480 per pint! (at least here in Las Vegas). I don't know if a standard insurance pays for it or not.

At any rate, the last time I gave blood before this cut off by Medicare, I spoke to the lab tech and she said no blood is 100% virus free. There is a potential of HIV and HCV and other strange and creepy things....

Magnum

[meakea]

Nutpea, I posted earlier about a person that I know through another Hep C site that had sold plasma for YEARS along with her husband.  It was only about 5 years ago that she got a call back to the plasma center to a face to face meeting telling her that she tested positive for Hep C.  Subsequently, her Hepatologist told her that it was obvious to him (from testing) that she has had HCV for at least 25-30 years which coincides with her teenage drug years.  And then there's the story of your mother so it got me wondering about the testing procedures for plasma (which I would have thought would be the same as for donating blood).  I searched out the screening regs for plasma and came up with the following:

What type of medical screening and testing is done?
The U.S. and most countries in Western Europe require that all plasma donors submit to a pre-donation physical, including medical history questions, tests for transmissible viruses such as Hepatitis B and C and HIV, total plasma protein levels and hematocrit/hemoglobin levels. The plasma protein therapeutics industry’s International Quality Plasma Program (IQPP)-certification requires additional donor screening, donor education on high risk behavior and residency requirements.

So...there are regs in place but they are obviously only words on paper unless they are enforced by the people who are working with the plasma.  Since there's money involved with plasma, it makes me wonder.

[sbd5251]

I have been greatly encouraged by all of you and thank you from the bottom of  my heart.  I am not going away as long as you are here cheering me on with my battle.

[sbd5251]

I was doubting myself last night again.   But I read a daily devotional, and I read one that said there was one second between now and then.   Now on earth and then walking with God and we have three three things between the two---Faith, Hope and Love.  I have the faith that God has put me in this place and on this path.  I hope that I  can do it as He wants it done and I am sure he will correct me when I start going wrong.  And the love I have for God and Candace to do what I need to do.  I promised Candace and God,  that I would do everything I could to see that this never happened to another child.  

Thank you for your kind words and encouragement.

[nutpea]

     I wish you luck in your battle. It will make the world a safer place in the medical area..There is no reason for a person to win one battle only to sucumb to another... (oh my doc said if I go anemic from tx I could get a blood tranfusion. I think I wont, as I dont need anything else)  I always thought they tested blood first, to make sure it did not come from a person whom had a blood disease...But then I found out my mother sold her plasma for VODKA ! as often as they would take it.  I have also heard of people with I.V. drug habbits selling their blood so they can get more dope. I guess the places that pay for plasma/blood. make alot of money! so they have no insentive to screen it.  people think if they give blood, they are being tested for blood diseases, but I dont think that is the case. I worked at a plant..Lots of people with some real bad habbits of the past or present.
         I am sorry you lost your little girl..I think she would be proud of your efforts.  May you win your battle...

[sbd5251]

My mother had to have surgery several years ago and she would not sign the waiver when they brought into her because she said she would never take blood.  I agreed with her but did not say anything.  My three brothers came to me and asked me to talk to her and tell her to sign the papers.  I knew if I didnt say something to her they would never forgive me for it.   So I did talk with her and told her  "Sign the papers, Mom. I think old age will get you before HCV "  She laughed and said "OK, I guess you have a point after all I am 84 years old."  She didnt have to have it but she did sign the paper.   But we as survivors of people that got contaminated blood should not have to put up with the sloppy,  money hungry people in high salaried jobs deciding to send out blood that is contaminated.  I dont blame the people that are what I call the everyday worker at the ARC and other blood banks too.  I blame the people that are in power that could do something to make them clean up the blood supply.  They have done it to the tobacco industry, MADD got the drinking age raised to 21, and I dont see why we cant get the blood supply safer.  I know it will never be 100% safe but it can be a lot, lot safer than it is.

If someone, can give me a good explanation for blood products going out with donor suitability not adequately determined or donor previously permanently deferred for HIV or donor had vCJD,  or had traveled to an area endemic for malaria,  then i will gladly go away quietly. Maybe LOL  

I am a truly blessed person.  I have a very close family.  I have a healthy, happy, married daughter that is my pride and joy.  I  have a lot of young people in my life that keep me going.  

[child24angel]

The blood supply is still not safe.  It' much better then it was in
the late 70's early 80's...not 100 %

My daughter had her baby by emergency C section last year and had
to sign a waiver that she knew if she needed a blood transfusion
it might contain HCV...she signed it and said , there should be 0 chance.

My son passed away from HCV two years ago when he was 26.
Had severe hemophilia and had plasma until he was two.
Also, my brother a hemophiliac passed away had Aids/HCV/HEP B
he was 30.  

I don't know if you can do much about this now.  Things are still getting through yes,
not nearly as bad as it was. I hope you can find some closure however, you never
get over the loss of a child, not ever.  I sincerely wish you good luck

I'm truly , truly very sorry for your loss.
Elaine

[sbd5251]

I need the people like you that got Hepatitis C from blood transfusions and know other people that did to be standing with me.  I am going to do something to clean up this mess.   There is no reason in the world for this to be happening in the greatest nation in the world.  I have a great set of lawyers, that are working on this for me for nothing.  This has haunted my lawyer who is not even a partner in the law firm and he and I  have the blessings of the senior partner of the law firm. I have some letters that I have written to my Congressional Delegation that my lawyer is looking at to make sure that i dont end up in jail.  I could be considered a terrorist threat.  I know that I may sound like a NUT but I dont care.  As I said in an earlier post, suing them was not money related, it was about them cleaning up their mess.  If you are in the situation where you need any type of blood product,  you should be confident that it is clean.  One of my Senators staff members asked me what the percentage was of blood that was contaminated.  My response was (excuse my language)  and I quote "Who gives a damn about percentages, when you are the one that gets contaminated blood".   I asked one of the lawyers for the ARC that someday somebody he loved would need a unit of blood.  He will remember Candace when that happens.

[James10500]

Some real selfish people out there.  Giving blood when they are drunk and those that enable them.  No excuses absolutely disgusting.

[SusieS2010]

I am so sorry for your loss. What you are doing today is true advocacy. God bless you.

I, too, got my HCV from a blood transfusion in 1966. I really needed that blood or I would have died. I do have cirrhosis but I got 44 years so far, from that blood. I pray no one else must go through what your daughter did.

[blondie717]

in 1997 my mother always gave plasma (she sold it for more vodka, I like to say she gave vodka with alittle plasma)..she went in too falling down, sloppy drunk one time. they tested and called her in, she thought she had aids and wanted me in that room with her. They would not allow me in with her consent...She came out and said they said she could never give blood again. She died around 2003? from the final stages of liver failure...I wonder what they did with all the other vodka Oops I mean plasma she had sold ever 10 or 15 days???? Who got that??? And what was really wrong with her??? If it was just the booze they might of said wait 72 hrs before selling plasma???  No I dont think our blood suply is safe... My sweet hubby had blood transfusion in washington , for a gunshot would to the neck...that was around 1998. I dont know how he got his hep c.... Hey maybe my hubby got my mama's blood. And then gave me his...

[nygirl7]

I guess really it is a good lesson about having family members store up their own blood if they can afford to do so.  I have always assumed that I got this disease in the 80s from being a stupid ignorant child making stupid dumb mistakes however I have had several tfusions in my life (although much later and I have too much liver damage to have been them I THINK).  We should be able to trust the blood supply that much is true.

"People who don't care about others have no business in the healthcare field. "

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT!!!!!!!!! People in the position to be able to steal drugs / syringes etc. should be tested REGULARLY as a part of the job.  I guess it would be rather intrusive but heck they could drug test us here at work whenever they want if they feel like it......and I have no access to anything like that. I'd have to get reinfected, stab myself with a tack and then go shake someones hand and stab them with it too ;) not so dangerous or exciting.

[sbd5251]

I agree wholeheartedly with you.  I was in the same position.  But with the technology we have today we should be issued some kind of card that can be checked instantly when you go to give blood.  The practice of buying blood products should be stopped.  If i go in a store and want to make a purchase,  they can tell instantly if i have the funds available.
I was in the same position you were in with Candace.  Give her the  blood or let her die.  But I did trust the ARC and expected to get good blood.  If they can tell instantly about money then the system should be just as good for blood.  The people that are make the decisions should never take a unit of blood until the donor suitability is absolutely not in question.

[Diane12855]

You're right there. I guess that in this world that has mistakes happening in every area every day, 10 -15 units getting by that weren't completely evaluated out of the thousands of units that are processed every day doesn't seem like that much... unless you are the one to get one of those units. Just like we have seen with the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL and that colonoscopy clinic in Nevada, careless, inconsiderate people get hired by lots of medical facilities... People who don't care about others have no business in the healthcare field.

Diane

[nygirl7]

Well all I can really say is usually if you need a transfusion - you really need to have the transfusion.  When I was dying a few years ago I gladly took the blood regardless of what it could have had, at the time it was more important to me.  It's not the kind of thing people do just for jolly's. No system is perfect but certainly if you need the blood you need the blood.

[Diane12855]

I don't know why I didn't see them either. I just highlighted the link you provided, right-clicked and selected go to that site. I'll try it again.

Diane