For those who do not speak English as their first language, the difficulties are magnified, and fear may also inhibit language facility at this time. If the person is not competent in English, make sure you get an interpreter who can explain the procedure, the risks and the benefits, in the person's own language. It may be helpful to ask if patients would like you to talk to someone in their family to help with the decision about the procedure. People may not ask questions and may say they have understood, even if they have no or only partial understanding. If it becomes a legal issue in a court of law, it is important to have checked comprehension.
Most people entertain fears of dying if they have an operation.
Signing the consent may create the impression that the operation is very risky, and the doctor is evading responsibility by getting them to sign. So explain that it is standard for all patients to sign, and explain why they need to sign the consent form. In some countries, procedures such as endoscopies are done without sedation. Make sure the patient understands that in Australian hospitals, some form of sedation is usually used, otherwise they may be needlessly anxious. On the other hand, various procedures are now done in Australia as day surgery and often with local anaesthesia only, whereas patients may be familiar with such operations occurring for inpatients with a general anaesthetic.