criminal-law civil
What would someone be charged with if they did this as the patient before surgery?
<p>In 2000 I had surgery. I had three wisdom teeth out in hospital. Two weeks before it I saw the surgeon. He handed me a form to fill out. It had about 50 checkboxes. Did I have AIDS, hepatitis or heamophilia? Was I a drug user? Had I ever had cancer? Was I an alcoholic? I ticked all 50 as "no" and signed the form. It said above the signature:</p>

<p>"You are legally liable for your answers. Any false information by act or omission may result in criminal prosecution or other penalties".  </p>

<p>So afterwards I wondered what if someone did lie? Suppose that you had HIV AIDS and you lied on the form. Then the surgeon who did your procedure got AIDS from you. I imagine that he or she would have a civil suit. But for being charged with something: attempted murder? I am in the Australian legal system. So I don't understand the American system with felonies. But it might be some type of felony. </p>

<p>Another aspect is say you lie on the form and then you wake from the surgery paralysed permanently. You go to a lawyer and say "I'd like a civil suit against the surgeon". I imagine that if you have lied the lawyer might say "sorry, you have no rights to a civil suit or compensation; you forfeited such rights when you lied". </p>

<p>It's pretty disconcerting how much trouble you could get into. It's a big deal to sign a pre-surgery form. </p>

<p><strong>Insurance fraud</strong></p>

<p>But not for the medical part of the form.</p>

<p>Almost all procedures in Australia involve some type of insurance (Medicare, private, workers comp. etc.) - the notice is about the part of the form where you are authorizing payment.</p>
