| Not notified of illness, patient died.
I live in Wash State. In preparation for elective surgery in 11/1999, my father banked several pints of his own blood for possible transfusion. One year later (11/2000), in preparation for another elective surgery, my father was found to have advanced liver cancer. The Dr. suspected Hepatitis C and tested my father. He tested positive. Patients with Hepatitis C are at a large risk for liver cancer, and are monitored carefully for changes in their liver, among other things, and many are candidates for several kinds of treatment, including liver transplants. My mother was also at risk but fortunately tested negative for Hep C. My father died 8 weeks after his diagnosis. My family could not believe that the Hep C would not have been evident in 1999 when my father had gave banked blood and had surgery, certainly in time for him to be thoroughly examined, monitored and for intervention to take place. Recently we contacted the blood center and found that my father DID INDEED test positive for Hepatitis C in 1999. The information was never passed on to him. Not only did my father lose his life, but my mother was put at risk as well. Someone did not notify the patient of his life threatening illness. We don't want this to happen to someone else. We don’t’ know who’s responsibility it was to notify the patient. What can we do? | 
08-05-2001, 05:14 PM
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