Why Do I Need to Sign a Disclaimer Before Hair Transplant Surgery?

If Hair Transplant is so safe, why do clinics require patients to sign “disclaimer” before surgery? I was quite freaked out seeing the paper basically saying ‘Oh, BTW, you could die and it won’t be our fault’. Not the best thing you do right immediately after popping Valium and right before heading for the chair.

I agree disclaimers can be a bit daunting and scary when you read each and every line. While we live in a litigious society that necessitate us from signing disclaimers, it is also a way to give full disclosure of all risks involved.

Signing a full disclosure or a disclaimer after taking a Valium (while you are intoxicated) is probably unethical and against the law, but it is something that should be discussed with you before any surgery or any activity when you are in a clear state and of sober mind. In my practice I mail out full informed consent documents days before surgery so my patients can have a chance to read it in the comfort of their home. We also review the entire consent form on the day of surgery before any medications are given. There should be no hidden surprises. This is how it is (or how it should be) for all medical centers and hospitals.

By the way, yes, you can die from a hair transplant surgery. This happened just a few years back (see here). To be fair, there were special circumstances behind that death, as the transplant itself is a very safe outpatient procedure with patients fully awake during the surgery. Unless someone has a heart attack or a stroke during the surgery, a hair transplant in itself is not a life threatening procedure.