While receiving treatment for a health condition, patients have a right to be informed about their condition, what to expect from treatment paths, and any potential risks involved. Failure to provide this information could cause patients in Illinois to make decisions without fully understanding their rights and options. Lack of consent could lead to unauthorized treatments that could pose a threat to a patient’s health and encountering similar forms of medical malpractice can be a harrowing experience.
What is informed consent?
According to experts, doctors are required by law to provide their patients with information on various topics, including discussing the diagnosis and the available treatment paths. Doctors also have a duty to inform patients of any risks involved with each treatment option. This information must be provided in clear language so patients can understand the situation and patients must be competent when signing an informed consent document for the document to be valid.
Failure to obtain consent from a patient for non-emergency care can prompt a variety of issues. Such negligence could leave patients without the necessary information to make informed choices about health care options. Lack of consent may also lead to unauthorized paths of care that may violate a patient’s rights and sometimes the outcome of such scenarios could also lead to severe or permanent harm.
Medical malpractice
Failure to obtain informed consent is a type of medical malpractice that continues to affect the lives of many individuals. Those who encounter similar forms of negligence may be left with questions about the best course of action to take to seek accountability via the civil justice system, and they could choose to consult with an attorney for advice in preparing for this process. An attorney in Illinois can examine every aspect of a client’s situation and assist in preparing to pursue the compensation deserved via a medical malpractice claim against all parties deemed responsible.
