What is the first step in determining a patient's capacity to consent?

Determining scene safety is crucial as a first step in any patient interaction, including assessing a patient's capacity to consent. Ensuring that the environment is safe allows for proper assessment of the patient without the risk of additional harm or danger. If the scene is not safe, both the patient and the medical personnel might be at risk, which could compromise the assessment process and the patient's ability to communicate effectively.

Once safety is established, healthcare providers can proceed to evaluate the patient's cognitive, emotional, and legal ability to understand the information relevant to their care and make informed decisions. The other options, while important in the overall assessment of the patient, do not directly address the foundational need for a safe environment to begin the evaluation process.