Chu points out that although patient authorizations of medical procedures have been required for a long time, the signature from a patient or relative has long been regarded as a routine matter. Patients often haven't understood the impact, results, and side effects of surgery. They often have lacked sufficient understanding of the meaning of their authorization. And even if they had questions, they might not dare to ask them.
曲同光指出，手術同意書雖然存在已久，但過去病人或家屬簽署同意書只是例行公事，對於開刀的影響、結果、副作用，甚至同意書的內容都不瞭解，有問題也不敢提出質疑。