Alabama Man Sues Florida Blood Bank Over HIV Infection

An Alabama man has filed a lawsuit against a Florida blood bank, charging that a transfusion during a coronary bypass surgery infected him with HIV.

The lawsuit alleges that the contaminated blood given to Howard Midkiff came from the Alabama branch of Gainesville, Fla.-based LifeSouth Community Blood Centers.

Calls for comment to LifeSouth were not returned.

A spokeswoman for the Baptist Health hospital system where the transfusion was given said Midkiff is the only one believed to have been given blood from the donor in question. She said they have never experienced a case like this before and don’t expect to in the future.

MidKiff’s attorneys sought unspecified damages, but are asking that the award exceed the minimum required.