Opinion ID: 1776398
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Silva Case

Text: Anne Marie Silva received blood product transfusions from Southwest Florida Blood Bank, Inc. during the birth of her child. Her doctors relayed Southwest's assurances that its blood supply was safe and free from HIV because of the testing procedures used. Mrs. Silva nonetheless contracted the HIV virus, testing positive at the end of 1986. She died of AIDS in January 1990. The Silvas initiated suit against Southwest in December 1989, ultimately amending the complaint to allege negligence and breach of Southwest's warranty regarding the representation that its blood by-product was safe. The trial court dismissed the suit, finding that Southwest was a health care provider and thus entitled to the medical malpractice statute of limitations. The Second District affirmed, but acknowledged conflict with Durden v. American Hospital Supply Corp ., which had refused to apply the medical malpractice limitations statute to an action by a donor against a blood bank.