Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer - Article

The Importance of Informed Consent

Informed consent is a very important requirement for all health care providers and researchers. It means that before a doctor, physical therapist or medical researcher can give you any medication or put you through any procedure, they must explain its purpose and possible outcomes, and obtain your permission.

It is vital that the doctor in question informs you fully. Your consent does not mean anything if you do not understand what you are consenting to. You deserve to know about possible side effects of a procedure or medication, any risks involved, and how likely it is to work effectively. This information should be offered to you as a matter of course. If you have any questions, you are entitled to answers.

Emergency situations are the exception to this rule. Emergency room staff do not need your permission to perform immediately necessary procedures.

You may not always be in a position to make this kind of decision for yourself. In some cases, you may be unconscious or incapacitated in some way that prevents you from making informed choices. This is why it is a good idea to designate someone, usually a family member, who will make these decisions for you.

If you have been denied important information about a procedure or medication, you may be a victim of medical malpractice. Contact Chicago medical malpractice attorneys Friedman & Bonebrake at (312) 466-8200 today.