Medical Errors: Preventable and Unpreventable Adverse Events
Bleeding After a Venipuncture Can Be an Adverse Event
Excessive bleeding after a venipuncture can occur as a preventable or an unpreventable adverse event. Laboratory professionals might or might not have control over this situation because of the factors involved. For example:
- Bleeding due to failure to apply immediately pressure on the venipuncture site is a preventable adverse event.
- Bleeding due to later injury to the venipuncture site is an unpreventable event.
Circumstances that cause the bleeding determine whether it is a preventable or unpreventable adverse event.
