Doctor Performed Different Procedure Without Consent… Kind Of

Location: Arizona

I had a consult with a new doctor to continue post-op care involving ongoing complications (insurance changed at beginning of year, original surgeon became out of network). The new doctor agreed with the original doctor’s treatment plan and I scheduled a procedure with them.

When I got to the office, the consent form was for an entirely different procedure - albeit similar - and I did not sign it at first. Made the medical assistant aware and she sort of pressured me to sign it anyways “so they didn’t get further delayed” and I said no. She left and came back and said she spoke with the doctor, he was aware that the procedure I came in expecting to get and the procedure listed on the consent form were different, and to sign the original document. Stupidly I did.

I’m assuming I have no real recourse given I signed the consent - but wanted to check here as it seems like a massive fuck up that I can come in for one treatment and receive another while being assured that was not the case.

I found out when the procedure notes were uploaded to my patient portal. Called the office and they seemed very confused. Had a medical assistant call me back who also didn’t have much to say and said they would talk to the doctor and get back in touch “to find out what really happened” (is whats in my medical record, written by the doctor, not accurate???)

The procedure (steroid injection) hasn’t caused massive obvious harm but I came in for a saline injection, not steroids. I specifically have refused steroid injections as the known, documented side effects cause more harm than good (in my case). It was and is not the correct treatment and I hate the fact a (rather large) dose of steroids was administered to me without my actual consent. I have been trying to solve the original issue for 10 months and regain use of my arm - steroids do not help and I do not tolerate them well.

Do I have any legal recourse or is this a ‘suck it up and advocate better for yourself next time’ situation?