If I'm asked to sign a consent form before I go into surgery, am I waiving any rights to file a medical malpractice suit if something should go wrong?

Consent forms may limit your legal rights to file a malpractice lawsuit against the medical professionals involved in your care, however, they do not completely eliminate the responsibility of the medical professional or the hospital or surgery center.

If the medical professional fails to perform according to the standard of care for the area, then a medical malpractice lawsuit may be filed. There may also be extenuating circumstances such as a failure to disclose certain risks for a procedure or incompetence occurring while the medical professional is performing the procedure that in fact may result in medical malpractice.

To assure your rights are completely covered, you should consult with a medical malpractice attorney in your state or one that is intimately knowledgeable with the laws governing your particular state.