Prior to medical procedures patients are often required to sign consent forms, which are meant to inform patients of procedural risks so that they may make an informed decision as to whether or not they want to go through with the procedure. A signed consent should show that the patient was both aware of the risks and he or she consented to those risks, waiving any right to sue should the patient experience one of the unfortunate risks he or she was aware of prior to the procedure. In some cases, a signed consent is enough to bar a lawsuit, but not in all cases.
Do not assume that you cannot bring a claim because you signed a consent without first speaking with a medical malpractice attorney who has reviewed your consent and understands your injuries. There are some things you may not consent to, such as a medical professional’s negligence and there may be problems with what the consent form states or what actually caused your injury. When it comes to injuries, you may only know what medical professionals have told you and that may not be the full story.