In a scenario where an injured employee contracts Hepatitis C from a blood transfusion during surgery for a work-related injury, which of the following is the employer's responsibility?

• A. Medical treatment for Hepatitis C.
• B. The compensable consequences of the Hepatitis C.
• C. Nothing, the Hepatitis C is not work related.
• D. Temporary disability and permanent disability.

Answer: (A)

When a work-related injury requires medical treatment, California workers’ compensation covers the medical care needed to cure or relieve the effects of that injury, including conditions that arise from the treatment itself. If a Hepatitis C infection is contracted from a blood transfusion given during surgery to treat the work-related injury, this infection is a consequence of the medical treatment for the compensable injury. Therefore, the employer is responsible for providing and paying for the medical treatment for Hepatitis C.

Disability (temporary or permanent) may occur if the infection causes incapacity, but the immediate obligation in this scenario is the medical treatment for Hepatitis C.