When you're injured or ill, you expect your doctor to take care of you. You may have already trusted your doctor with your health and safety following an accident. But what happens when your doctor betrays that trust? You may already have seen severe impacts to your health.
When it comes to the relationship between doctors and patients, doctors are supposed to get consent before they act. But what about informed consent? If you believe your doctor didn't seek out informed consent, and now your health is in danger, you may need to contact a Tampa medical malpractice lawyer about your injuries or illness.
Informed consent simply means you've consented to a medical treatment with the knowledge of the risks you're facing. You're aware of the risks you may suffer, and you're prepared to face them when you've given informed consent to your doctor.
For example, you were being treated for a heart condition. Your doctor may have recommended surgery, and they may have presented you with both the positive aspects of the treatment and the potential side effects and downsides. Because your doctor made sure they informed you about your potential treatment, the doctor has gained informed consent.
Unfortunately, many patients find themselves in the opposite situation. They may have suffered serious side effects and experienced risks they would have never taken if their doctor had given them all the information they needed.
If a doctor operated or otherwise treated you without getting your informed consent, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. Your health was put on the line, and you should be compensated for your losses. Unfortunately, filing a medical malpractice claim can be tough.
You may need to prove the doctor harmed you with their actions, and they did so because they were careless with your safety. Often, this requires expert opinions from other doctors, who can tell you more about your case. You may also need a lawyer to help you handle the legal side of your claim.
Medical malpractice claims can also be complicated because of your time limits. In Florida, you only have four years to file a claim, unless your doctor intentionally hid it from you. In these cases, you may have some extra time to file. Because these claims require a lot of work in a short amount of time, you may need to speak with a lawyer to determine what your next move should be.
When a doctor fails to put your health first, it can lead to serious injuries, unneeded treatment, and decisions on your health that you may regret. If you've not given informed consent for your treatment, your doctor may be held liable for your injuries.
If you're concerned about your future and your suffering, reach out to a lawyer from Anderson & Anderson. If you're concerned you didn't give informed consent before treatment, your lawyer can help, starting with a free consultation. When you're ready, reach out by calling 813-251-0072 or by visiting our website online.
