Informed Consent: What Issaquah Patients Need to Know Before a Medical Procedure
You have the right to a thorough explanation of what will be done before agreeing to treatment or undergoing surgery. Medical providers in Washington State are legally required to obtain informed consent. This ensures you are given enough information to make an educated decision about your care.
When informed consent is not properly obtained, patients may suffer unexpected complications, prolonged recovery times, or even life-threatening injuries. Our Issaquah medical malpractice attorney helps clients in these cases and explains how not getting informed consent can form the basis for a Washington State medical malpractice claim.
What Informed Consent Really Means In Washington State
Under the Washington State Revised Code, healthcare providers must explain key facts about treatments and procedures, using clear language that patients can understand.
Beyond medical jargon and technical descriptions, they must provide clear, honest answers to your questions. This includes:
- Your diagnosis and why your provider recommends a particular procedure.
- A description of the procedure and how it is performed.
- The potential benefits of moving forward with treatment.
- The possible risks or complications involved.
- Alternatives to the recommended procedure.
- The consequences of not having the procedure.
Without this level of explanation, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) warns that patients cannot truly weigh the risks against the benefits. In Issaquah and throughout Washington, skipping this step can leave providers open to legal liability if something goes wrong.
Lack of Informed Consent A Common Issue In Issaquah Medical Malpractice Claims
Unfortunately, informed consent doesn’t always happen the way it should. Some doctors rush through the process, while others delegate it entirely to staff or rely on pre-printed forms.
Unfortunately, patients may feel pressured to sign without fully understanding their options.
Among the most common issues in Issaquah medical malpractice claims:
- Incomplete disclosures, such as leaving out certain risks or downplaying their likelihood.
- Rushed explanations and giving patients little to no time to process information or ask questions.
- Failure to discuss alternatives, such as omitting less invasive options or different treatment paths.
- Language or comprehension barriers and not ensuring the patient truly understands the information
- Consent obtained under duress, in which patients are pressured to agree when they are vulnerable or distressed
If you believe you were not given full and honest information before a procedure, you may have grounds for a malpractice claim. A lawyer can help you determine if your provider failed to meet the legal standard for informed consent under RCW 7.70.050, which outlines patient rights in Washington.
To Protect Your Rights, Contact Our Experienced Issaquah Medical Malpractice Attorney
Every patient in Issaquah has the right to clear, complete information before saying “yes” to a medical procedure. If that right is ignored and harm results, you have the legal right to hold your providers accountable.
At Injury Law Group NW, our legal team understands the complexities of informed consent cases and can guide you through your options. To get the compensation you need to recover in a claim, contact our office. Request a consultation today with our experienced Issaquah medical malpractice attorney.
Sources:
app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=7.70&full=true
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430827/
