Title: Explain legal and medical ramifications of potential errors in immunohematology and transfusion services, as well as potential consequences.
Course: Medical Laboratory Technology II (14102-II) > Section: Understanding the Basics of Immunohematology/Transfusion Services

Explanation may include potential errors, such as

- misidentification of a patient or specimen
- failure to get a patient's informed consent for blood drawing or transfusion
- failure to inform a patient of potential risks from a procedure.

Explanation may also include potential consequences, such as

- tort liability
- infection of a patient
- injury or scarring of a patient
- hemorrhaging of a patient
- toxicity or death of a patient resulting from an incompatible cross-match.

Process/Skill Questions:

- Why is it essential to get a patient's informed consent prior to blood drawing or transfusion?
- How can an incompatible cross-match result in toxicity? In death?
- How can incompatible cross-matches be prevented?
- What procedure(s) should be followed if an incompatible cross-match is suspected?
- In blood drawing or transfusion, how can the healthcare team reduce the chances of patient infection? Scarring? Hemorrhaging?