Make Sure You're Fully Informed Before You Give Your Consent

    /24-7PressRelease/ - PHOENIX, AZ, April 13, 2008 - If you see a physician for an injury or illness and treatment is recommended, your informed consent is needed before the treatment can take place. If you undergo surgery or another type of treatment without giving written consent, a doctor or hospital may be guilty of medical malpractice.

Your rights are protected by law
You may sign the papers, but you may not realize what your signature means. It is the responsibility of your physician to fully explain the risks of your specific treatment. If you give your informed consent in writing, but were misled about the potential side effects and risks, your rights are being violated. Through medical malpractice litigation, attorneys can help you obtain financial compensation if a treatment results in catastrophic injury.

Informed consent is universal
Informed consent is needed for any type of treatment, from emergency services to surgeries, tests and medication. Whether it is a private practice or hospital where you were treated, your rights are the same. For minor treatments, your consent may be given verbally. For invasive or high-risk treatments, your signature may be required. Either way, if you feel you were not made aware of the implications, and you suffered catastrophic injury during treatment, you may be entitled to collect damages.

Your safety is in the hands of medical professionals
The informed consent laws are in place to protect you. You trust that medical professionals will recommend treatment based on reasonable and accepted standards of care. However, when a doctor recommends a treatment where the risks may outweigh the benefits, your health and safety are at stake. If your informed consent was obtained and you then suffered serious injury, you can still bring action against your physician or hospital. For instance, if you signed informed consent papers for a surgical procedure, and then experienced serious anesthesia reactions that your physician should have foreseen, the medical provider can be held liable for your resulting injuries.

Protect yourself by being proactive
Before you agree to treatment, take the time to read the literature. Do research online and consider a second opinion. Ask as many questions as you can and talk to others who have undergone the treatment.

If you believe you may have a claim against a doctor who failed to obtain your informed consent, or who misrepresented the risks involved, talk to an experienced medical malpractice attorney.

If you or a loved one suffered injury after a medical mistake, please visit the web site of Phoenix-based law firm Snyder & Wenner, P.C.

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