This document provides guidelines for preoperative investigations and assessments, including routine tests such as urinalysis, ECG, and blood tests. It also discusses obtaining patient consent, explaining medical risks at different levels of frequency, and assessing patient competence. The American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification system is explained, with categories ranging from normal healthy patients to moribund patients not expected to survive without surgery. Guidelines are provided for pre-operative fasting periods depending on what was last ingested.

8. In addition to the frequency of the risk, the seriousness must be considered