When you have a health condition, you have the legal right as a patient to give or withhold your consent to undergo treatment. It is your right to carefully weigh all of the treatment options available with a physician before making your decision. If a doctor fails to provide all the information necessary for you to make an educated or informed decision, you may have grounds to file a medical malpractice claim in West Virginia for related damages.

What Is Informed Consent?

Informed consent is not a simple “yes” answer when a patient is asked if he or she wishes to undergo a type of treatment. The decision must be an educated and informed one, meaning the patient must have all the critical information about the treatment before agreeing. As a patient in West Virginia, you have a legal right to refuse treatment or a surgery you do not wish to receive, even if refusing the treatment results in your death. As long as the law considers you mentally competent, the treatments you receive or do not receive are up to you. You retain the legal right to give or withhold your informed consent.

Before you can give your informed consent to a medical treatment or trial, you must obtain all of the relevant information from the presiding physician or surgeon. Your doctor must list all of the known pros and cons of the treatment, as well as what may happen if you choose not to get the treatment. Your doctor must also list treatment alternatives, if available, including homeopathic medicine. Finally, your doctor must give you all of the possible health and safety risks associated with the treatment. Only after receiving all of this information, as well as answers to any questions you may have, are you able to give your informed consent as a patient. 

The Problem With Failing to Obtain a Patient’s Informed Consent

It is an encroachment of your rights as a patient to not receive all the information you need to give your informed consent to a surgery or treatment. Proceeding with the treatment without giving you all of the necessary information is a violation of your rights. It is also against the law for a doctor to go through with a procedure or treatment without obtaining your informed consent, in most cases. 

If you were mentally incompetent at the time the doctor obtained your informed consent, the consent is invalid. Incompetence could be due to emotional distress, intoxication, cognitive challenges, brain damage or lack of consciousness. This is the only situation in which a physician can proceed with treatment without your direct consent. The law assumes that any reasonable patient would approve procedures necessary to prevent a permanent disability or death in an emergency. 

Failing to obtain a patient’s informed consent is unfair for the patient. Failing to list all of the risks associated with a surgery, for example, could lead to an outcome that the patient would not have deemed worth the risk. If the patient had known of the risk of losing a limb, for instance, the patient might have gone with a less aggressive form of treatment. Failing to give a patient all of the facts before a course of treatment steals the opportunity of choosing his or her future from the patient. All patients in West Virginia have the right to give or withhold their informed consent. 

What to Do If You Did Not Give Your Informed Consent to Treatment

If you believe a medical professional failed to give you all of the crucial information about a procedure or failed to obtain your informed consent, and you have damages due to the procedure in question, you may be eligible for compensation. The doctor or hospital may owe you compensation for your damages. Contact a medical malpractice attorney near you if you feel a health care practitioner has violated your rights as a patient. We can help you understand your legal options. 

Attorney Timothy Manchin established the Manchin Injury Law Group in 2011 after his law partner of more than 25 years became a West Virginia circuit court judge. His focus is on helping individual clients and entire families victimized by negligent acts.

  • Taylor Downs was easy to talk to (I do not speak the legal language well!) and was very upfront and honest about the entire process of my case. He kept me updated as the case progressed, and answered my relentless questions. The end result was a favorable settlement that I’m not sure could have been any better with anyone else. In short, go see Taylor if you have a case. Don’t be intimidated to go seek his help, he won’t blow your brains out with “legal speak”.

    - PAUL MOUSER

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    - DAWN FRISENDA

  • If I ever have to go through it again I would definetly call Taylor right away. The group was so helpful through my situation and handled everything that needed to be done. They made a stressful situation a stress free situation. With Taylor you dont have to worry about one thing. Definietly would recomend to anyone.

    - TAYLOR G.

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  • Taylor and Tim helped make a difficult moment in life, a little more bearable. Easy to communicate with and informative. I will absolutely recommend them to everyone.

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  • Manchin Injury Law Group, Took care of me when I got into a car accident while I was pregnant. Very scary moment for a first time mom but thankfully Manchin Injury Law Group had my back and treated me great. They made me feel as if I was part of their family. My son is now 7 Months Old and very happy and healthy. I’m very thankful for them for helping me through everything and getting me what we deserved. I 100% would recommend them to anyone. If I ever have an accident again they will be my number 1 phone call!

    - SHAWNNA SHAFFER

  • The support given helped me to feel like I was included in my personal injury case every step of the way. I was informed about the entire process throughout. It was amazing how quick the turn around time was and I would definitely recommend Attorney Timothy J. Manchin to anyone!

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    - TERRI L. ARMENTROUT

  • Excellent experience dealing with Manchin Injury Law. They were very responsive, professional and easy to talk to. I did my homework before I hired a lawyer after my accident and I am so glad I found Manchin Injury Law Group. If you are injured, give them a call!

    - VILLA COVENANTS

  • Taylor and Tim helped make a difficult moment in life, a little more bearable. Easy to communicate with and informative. I will absolutely recommend them to everyone.

    - CHAD BILOTTA

  • Kelly and Taylor did all the hard work so that I didn’t have to. They both cared about my circumstance and got me a nice settlement. Taylor knows what he is doing and I felt comfortable with my case in his hands.

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  • Had a easy and smooth experience with a great attorney so when you go there make sure you ask for Taylor.

    - TIM CROSS

  • My experience at the Manchin Injury Law Group was extremely positive, and I would recommend them to anyone who needs a compassionate and experienced lawyer on their side.

    - TAMMY LACARIA

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