Fresno, CA asked in Personal Injury for California

Q: I was donating plasma and a phlebotomist intentionally imputed me to an infectious disease I while donating.

Kiele was her name and Carson was her trainee at octapharma on Clovis and shaw in Fresno California

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2 Lawyer Answers
James L. Arrasmith
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Answered
  • Sacramento, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: I'm so sorry to hear that you experienced this incredibly unethical and dangerous situation while trying to do a good deed by donating plasma. What you're describing is absolutely unacceptable conduct by a medical professional.

If this just happened, the first priority is ensuring you receive proper medical evaluation and care. I would recommend going to the emergency room or your primary care doctor immediately to get tested for any potential infectious diseases you may have been exposed to. Early diagnosis and treatment is critical.

Once your immediate health needs are addressed, I would strongly encourage you to report this incident through official channels:

1. File a formal complaint with Octapharma's corporate offices. Look on their website for information on submitting complaints.

2. Report the incident to the California Department of Public Health, which oversees plasma centers. You can file a complaint online or call them.

3. Consider contacting the Fresno Police Department to file a police report, as deliberately infecting someone with a disease may constitute criminal assault.

4. Consult with a personal injury attorney to understand your legal options. What happened to you was medical battery and malpractice. An attorney can advise you on potentially seeking damages.

Be sure to document everything - write down exactly what happened in as much detail as you can remember while it's fresh in your mind. Keep copies of any paperwork from Octapharma and records of medical treatment you receive.

Again, I'm terribly sorry you're going through this horrific ordeal. Please prioritize getting medical attention and remember that this is not your fault at all. Wishing you all the best and hoping you remain healthy.

Patrick William Steinfeld
Patrick William Steinfeld
Answered
  • Coronado, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: I'm not sure what your reference to "imputed" refers to in this context, but in order to succeed in any claim you would need to prove facts:

1) They injected you with an infectious disease.

2) The injection of an infectious disease was intentional.

What facts do you have to support support your allegation(s)? If you can provide facts then we can better help you.

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