In the April 2024 issue of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Report, the CDC reported that three women were diagnosed with HIV after “vampire facials” at an unlicensed New Mexico spa. This is believed to be the first documented case of HIV infections associated with cosmetic procedures using needles. Reportedly, there was an investigation into the clinic from 2018 through 2023; the investigation concluded that the clinic reused one-time use disposable equipment.
The investigation started in the summer of 2018, when a woman in her 40s without any risk factors tested positive for HIV. She reported exposure to needles through a vampire facial just a few months earlier (in the spring of the same year). The following fall, the spa closed down. The Spa owner was prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license.
Although this is reportedly only the first documented case of an HIV infection occurring due to a cosmetic procedure, it is important that all patients of these cosmetic procedures – vampire facials or other procedures – know that they could have the right to sue if they suffer harm due to the negligence of a clinic.
Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers are fully committed to getting you the recovery that you need to fight for your rights and recover the compensation that you are owed. Our team has decades of experience and is ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to hold any negligent entity accountable for the harm that you or a loved one suffered. If you are ready to speak with our vampire facial negligence lawyers, contact us today.
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What is a Vampire Facial?
Vampire facials are increasingly popular rejuvenation treatments. Vampire facials are a cosmetic procedure that combines microneedling and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The needles are used to puncture the skin, promoting the skin to heal itself through production of elastin and collagen. The PRP is applied to the skin (it is produced with the patient’s own blood); the microneedling also allows the PRP to penetrate the skin.
Negligent Clinics Performing Cosmetic Procedures Leading in Harm
These clinics have a duty to treat their patients with the highest duty of care. They have to follow all safety protocols, such as cleaning the station between every patient, sanitizing/disinfecting all equipment, disposing of all single-use equipment/tools after each use, wearing gloves, and wearing face coverings, for example.
In the incident discussed above, the investigation showed that the clinic was reusing single-use equipment. The most common single-use equipment (equipment designed for safe use on only one patient during one procedure) include needles, syringes, tubes, bandages, etc. Once used, single-use equipment is no longer safe to be reused, as they can be contaminated and can lead to serious infections, including but not limited to HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
If you or a member of your family suffered any infection due to a clinic’s negligence during a cosmetic procedure, it is important that you seek legal assistance with the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible. Our team can help you understand the legal options available to you.
Can I Recover Compensation If I Sue for HIV Caused by Vampire Facial?
Yes, you could be eligible to receive compensation for the harm that you or a loved one suffered due to the negligence of a clinic during a vampire facial or any other similar cosmetic procedure. Some of the different categories of compensation available for recovery could include medical costs, lost pay, pain and suffering, funeral/burial costs, loss of consortium, punitive damages, and legal costs, for example.
What could I be eligible to recover? How much is the value of my claim? Based on the details surrounding your claim, you could be entitled to receive anywhere from $500,000 to $3 million in compensation – or even more. For a more case-specific review of the possible value of your claim, contact us today. Our team is fully committed to helping you secure the highest payout available for your claim whether it is through a settlement or through a verdict.
Recommended Steps to Take
What should I do? What do I need to do to prepare to file a claim? If you have found yourself asking these questions, consider some of the recommendations below:
- Seek medical care immediately
- Report the incident both to the clinic and to the health department (make sure to make written reports and request copies of all reports)
- Collect all relevant medical records
- Collect records of lost wages
- Collect all records of the vampire facial treatment (including appointment confirmations, receipts, etc.)
- Seek legal assistance with a vampire facial injury attorney as soon as possible
Contact the Experts at the Normandie Law Firm Today
People seek cosmetic procedures to improve their appearance and their confidence, but the negligence of the clinics performing these procedures can jeopardize results and actually expose patients to dangerous infections. If you or a member of your family contracted HIV or another infection via a vampire facial, please seek legal help as soon as possible. You could have the right to file a lawsuit and recover monetary compensation. For information about filing either an injury lawsuit or a medical malpractice lawsuit against the clinic that negligently caused your infection, contact our legal team today. Here at the Normandie Law Firm, we have decades of experience and are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need.
To ensure that remain accessible, we offer free legal services, including free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our experts will be available to answer all your questions, address all your concerns, and provide you with the guidance that you need to start or continue your claim. To benefit from these free legal services and speak with our expert team, contact us today.
Zero-Fee Guarantee: you will never have to pay upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. In addition, we work on a contingency structure that ensures that you will never be required to pay any legal fees if you do not win. If you do not win, you will not be responsible for paying any legal expenses. Contact us today to learn more.
