An expectant mother was scheduled for a C-section because her baby girl was not in the correct position. The mother was healthy and did not have any complications throughout her pregnancy. During her cesarean, everything went according to plan. The girl was born healthy and the mother seemed fine, so it seems. After 6-weeks after the C-section, she went in for her check-up. She explained to the physician that she had a weird feeling, and he ordered further testing. In their findings, they found that the mother had contracted HIV. She was shocked and soon realized that something must have gone wrong during her C-section because she’s been home the whole time and had no other way of contracting HIV. The scalpel that was used had not been properly sanitized. Now, the mother of a new baby girl has HIV and will forever require medication.
Hepatitis and HIV can be contracted through medical devices that were not sanitized and cross-contamination. If a victim was exposed to hepatitis and HIV while they were being treated or cared for, they can seek legal aid and file a claim for medical malpractice. These are conditions that will never disappear. In fact, it may create distress for their personal relationships, will cost them money to treat, and can cause them intense emotional trauma. These are all recoverable damages that the victim of the HIV or Hepatitis exposure can be compensated for with the help of a qualified lawyer for HIV and Hepatitis exposure malpractice in Ft. Lauderdale.
Ways How a Patient Can Become Exposed to Hepatitis and HIV
While exposure to HIV and hepatitis can occur in different circumstances, it can also happen when visiting a hospital or undergoing a treatment. These are some medical negligence that can cause a patient to become infected with HIV or Hepatitis.
- Medical device that has not be sanitized properly
- Blood transfusion that is infected
- Organ transplant not properly tested for diseases
- Medical professionals not using properly shielding clothes
- Medical professionals not changing their gloves when seeing new patients
Hepatitis and HIV Figures
- At the end of 2014, there were about 1,107,700 people living with HIV
- About 2.3 million people are infected with Hepatitis C and are living with HIV
- 39,513 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2015
- In 2015, there were 108 reported cases of Hepatitis A in Florida
Medical Malpractice Due to HIV and Hepatitis Exposure
With the assistance of the Percy Martinez Fort Lauderdale law firm, our lawyers who specialize in HIV and Hepatitis malpractice can recover the damages that were endured as a result of medical negligence during the HIV exposure.