In today’s blog we are going to talk about Chiropractic Malpractice Insurance in regards to the issue of informed consent, and why having your patient sign a consent form is so important.
What Is Informed Consent Mean Anyways?
Before agreeing to be given any chiropractic treatment patients should be informed about the risks and dangers associated with the process. Discussing with your patients the nature of the treatment and what they can expect in regards to discomfort and other feeling during the process is part of the informed consent process. All potential symptoms and risks that may occur following chiropractic treatment should also be addressed. It is also well advised to tell first time patients about the “worst case scenario” risks before applying treatment. By touching on these important topics and having your patient sign a waiver before any treatment is provided you can help to protect yourself from potential malpractice complaints later on. In fact, having an informed consent form signed by your patient serves as excellent evidence in your favour if a complaint were to be taken to court.
The sad reality is that we live in a day age where you cannot be too careful. Chiropractors find themselves increasingly more vulnerable to lawsuits because of the nature of their processes. Understanding the importance of providing informed consent in relation to malpractice and liability claims is essential. All chiropractors, no matter how long they have been in the industry should make consent forms a requirement at their practice.
Having good Chiropractor Malpractice Insurance coverage is just the first step to protecting yourself as a chiropractor from potential lawsuits. The second step is informing your patients about the nature of chiropractic treatment and the risks and dangers involved. Remember, even the best chiropractor can still find themselves dealing with a lawsuit. However, if the proper precautions are taken and Chiropractic Malpractice Insurance is in place you can lower the likelihood that you will encounter any legal problems.