October 4, 2019
The Weitz Firm, LLC

When you or someone you love are about to undergo a medical procedure, you will be asked to sign a piece of paper giving your informed consent to what will occur. Essentially, a doctor will go over all the risks associated with the medical procedure. However, our Philadelphia medical malpractice attorney knows that you should never have to worry about the negligence of a medical professional causing you harm. At The Weitz Firm, LLC we are here to help you recover the compensation you deserve, even if you signed a consent form.

What is informed consent when it comes to medical procedures?

Before a patient can undergo any medical procedure, medical professionals are required to obtain informed consent from them or their guardian. Informed consent is much more than simply signing a piece of paper. It includes a discussion between the patient and their doctor or surgeon (and not a representative of that person). This conversation should cover:

  • The diagnosis
  • Recommended treatments and procedures for that diagnosis
  • Risks and benefits of the chosen treatment plan
  • The risks of not receiving the procedure
  • Any viable alternatives along with their risks and benefits

Signing the consent form does not mean errors are okay

When you sign a consent form based on your conversations with your doctor, there is still a chance that something could go wrong, and it might not be due to malpractice. However, if you end up with an injury or illness after a procedure that absolutely should not have occurred or which you were not warned about, you could have a malpractice case.

Signing a consent form does not absolve a medical professional from damages that occur due to their carelessness or negligence. Doctors and surgeons must still provide a minimum standard of care for their patients.

Johns Hopkins researchers say that medical mistakes are now the third leading cause of death in the US. The study says that as many as 250,000 people are killed due to medical errors each year. Millions more are injured due to medical errors and are left picking up the pieces. Patients should always understand the risks associated with any procedure they are about to undergo. A consent form does not give the healthcare professional a license to do whatever they want.

We are ready to help you today

If you or someone you care about has been injured due to the careless or negligent actions of a medical professional, you may be entitled to compensation. When you turn to The Weitz Firm, LLC you can count on a qualified and experienced team to help you through this. We understand that you may have signed a consent form, but that does not absolve the professionals of mistakes made due to sub-standard care. We will work to secure the compensation you deserve. If you need a Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 267-587-6240.

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