A patient who has been given any sedating medication must not be asked to sign a consent, since the medication may have affected the patient’s cognitive ability. Legally, a patient must be fully mentally and emotionally competent to give consent, and that cannot be assessed after sedation is administered, even by the patient themselves. Finally, if sedation is given, that does not waive a patient’s right to give consent unless previously waived by the patient themselves or the court, so neither the attending physician nor next of kin has the authority to give consent for the patient at that moment.