Unnecessary blood transfusions could have lead to two deaths in 2005

UNNECESSARY blood transfusions may have been a factor in the deaths of two patients in 2005, a new report reveals.

Director of the National Haemovigilence Office (NHO), Dr Emer Lawlor, said while both patients were extremely ill it was felt the transfusions “probably did not help” their condition.

Dr Lawlor, a consultant haematologist with the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS), said a severely ill patient with liver disease was given plasma that was considered unnecessary as the patient was not bleeding.