Many patients who consider filing for medical malpractice believe consent forms protect doctors from malpractice lawsuits. This belief, however, is untrue.

When a patient signs a consent form, this signature does not protect the health care provider from malpractice lawsuits. Instead, the signature simply indicates that the patient acknowledges the stated risks and complications associated with a treatment or procedure. Even with the consent form, the health care provider must fulfill his or her duty to meet the standard of care associated with a given treatment or procedure. 

If you or anyone you know is a victim of medical malpractice, contact the Washington medical malpractice lawyers of Fuller & Fuller at 800-570-4878.