Informed Consent
Before a healthcare provider is able to perform a medical procedure on an individual, he or she must first obtain informed consent from the patient. Failure to get informed consent may be hazardous to the patient and could expose the healthcare provider to liability under the law.
There are some exceptions to informed consent, but in most cases it is required. If you or someone you love suffered an injury after a healthcare provider performed a medical procedure without informed consent, contact the Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 610-667-7511.
Components of Informed Consent
Informed consent consists of two parts. The first part involves the patient’s understanding of the procedure to be performed. This includes:
- The potential risks involved
- Specifics of the procedure
- Answers to any questions the patient has
After a patient knows about the procedure and has no more questions, the healthcare provider must get permission to perform the procedure.
In the event that the patient is unable to give informed consent, the healthcare provider must find a next of kin or legal guardian to make the decision. A healthcare provider may usually perform a procedure without informed consent if it essential to saving the patient’s life and informed consent cannot be obtained in time.
Contact Us
It may be difficult to determine whether your healthcare provider is guilty of a failure to gain informed consent, so if you feel that you have been wronged, contact the Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 610-667-7511 to learn if you may be entitled to financial compensation.