Informed consent should be obtained in the native language of the patient and an interpreter should be used, if required, preferably someone who is familiar with medical terminology.

Information must always be provided in a language that the patient understands. An interpreter should be used to provide information in the patient’s native language (American Psychological Association Ethics Code, 2002). 

This is necessary to ensure that the patient has understood the information given and is able to ask questions in the way he or she intends. Family members should not be used to interpret the information because they may omit some of the information in order to protect the patient, which may impede the patient’s ability to make an informed decision.