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Informed Consent Related to Medical Malpractice in Cleveland (Part B)

Upon diagnosis, a doctor must inform a patient of the intended treatment plan. If the explanation omits important information, it may be a case of the patient’s rights being violated. In other words, had the patient received all of the information (informed consent), he or she may have chosen another form of treatment. By knowing what is informed consent, patients can better understand their rights.

Informed Consent Definition Related to Types of Treatment and Risks

In most cases, there is more than one type of treatment available for a medical condition. Informed consent means the doctor will explain all of the options. Leaving any option out could be a type of malpractice.

Even if a doctor feels that one type of treatment would be better than another, the doctor still has an obligation to provide alternatives to the patient. A patient has the right to make the final decision.

In addition to providing the patient with information on the types of treatment plans that are available, the risks associated with them must also be disclosed. Almost any treatment plan comes with risks, even if it’s that the treatment might not work.

All risks must be discussed with a patient. This allows the opportunity to weigh the pros and cons for each type of treatment. For instance, prostate cancer is a common condition for which aggressive treatment is not always necessary. Some patients would benefit in waiting to see if the tumor grows because treatment often results in side effects such as incontinence or impotence.

If a patient knew that waiting was an option, he or she may decide to put off treatment to avoid risking developing those side effects.

Finally, a doctor should also explain to the patient what the possible outcomes could be if no treatment plan is pursued. All of these components can help a patient make an informed decision.

Contact a Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer if you believe you were denied informed consent. You could be entitled to compensation.

Contacting a Cleveland Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Do you have questions about what is informed consent or the informed consent definition? Before you hire a Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer, order our FREE Ohio medical malpractice guide to learn about your rights and options for legal resource in the event of a doctor or hospital’s mistake. To schedule a FREE consultation or learn more about your rights, contact the Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer team at Mellino Robenalt LLC today – 1-216-241-1901 or 1-888-457-1147.