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What Role Does Informed Consent Play in a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?

By: Anapol Weiss

Informed consent refers to the agreement established that patients have been fully informed by their doctor about a medical procedure’s potential risks.

Patients are often asked to sign a consent form before undergoing a medical procedure. However, these forms alone do not necessarily prove that a person gave informed consent. Doctors have a duty to provide their patients with essential information that will help them make informed choices about their medical care. If a patient is harmed during a procedure for which he or she did not give informed consent, that patient may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.

In a medical malpractice case, a medical expert may determine whether other competent doctors would have informed the patient of the risk related to the injury. In other cases, courts may consider whether a typical patient – with the same medical history and conditions as the plaintiff – would have made a different decision about the treatment having known about the risk.

Exceptions to the informed consent rule include scenarios involving emergencies, during which there may be little time to discuss with patients the risks involved in an emergency treatment or procedure.

Speak with Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers Today

Anapol Weiss has decades of success representing patients who were harmed as a result of medical negligence. If you or a family member was injured, our legal team can initiate an investigation to determine what really happened. Contact our Pennsylvania and New Jersey medical malpractice lawyers for assistance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anapol Weiss

Anapol Weiss is a top-rated national personal injury firm with a reputation for winning big. Our trial attorneys are leaders in medical malpractice, women's health litigation, personal injury, and mass torts cases. As a female majority-owned firm with a deep bench of experienced, determined trial attorneys, we are compassionate with our clients and fierce in the courtroom.