It’s common for doctors to require that a consent form be signed before surgery or any other type of medical procedure. Typically, the form states that the patient has been informed of the risks of surgery, and the form may list some of those possible complications that could occur.
Consent forms do not protect medical professionals from liability if they were negligent and caused harm. It is not possible for a patient to sign away all of their rights to sue a medical professional if the medical professional was negligent and caused harm. If you had a procedure and the person performing the procedure was negligent, you may be a victim of medical malpractice. Medical malpractice means that your medical provider did not meet the standard of care that is expected when that type of procedure is performed, and that poor care resulted in your injury.
Patients who are the victims of medical malpractice are entitled to file a medical malpractice lawsuit, and are entitled to compensation for their injuries. Typically, compensation included money for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If the malpractice was especially egregious, the doctor could be required to pay punitive damages as well.
If you have been the victim of medical malpractice in California, you should speak with an attorney. You may be entitled to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit against your health care provider. Call me, Conal Doyle, California medical malpractice attorney, at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.