You have identified a lesion requiring biopsy. What is the NEXT most important step before performing the biopsy?

Informed consent must be obtained before any surgical procedure, including biopsy. This is both an ethical and legal requirement. Informed consent includes explaining the procedure, risks, benefits, alternatives, and answering patient questions. While radiographs and diagnostic tests may be part of the workup, the signed consent is the required next step before performing the biopsy itself.