Önrendelkezése

Önrendelkezése is a Hungarian term that denotes an individual’s authority to make binding decisions about their own affairs. It encompasses the concept of self-determination in civil, personal, and, in some contexts, health matters. The term combines ön (self) and rendezkedés (disposition or ordering) and is used to describe the capacity and right to govern one’s legal and practical choices.

In civil law, öndrendelkezése concerns a person’s power to determine how their assets are managed, transferred, or disposed of, either during their lifetime or through instruments such as gifts, donations, or testamentary provisions. The term is related to but distinct from specific instruments like a végrendelet (will) or hagyatéki rendelkezés (estate disposition after death). It emphasizes autonomy in arranging one’s economic and legal relations, rather than prescribing any single method of disposition.

In healthcare and bioethics, the concept appears as the patient’s right to self-determination: being informed, giving or refusing consent to medical procedures, and deciding on treatment goals. This dimension of öndrendelkezése protects personal autonomy, dignity, and privacy within the framework of applicable laws and professional standards.

Constitutional and human rights perspectives treat self-determination as a fundamental principle supporting individual autonomy and freedom from coercion. Practical implementation relies on statutory rules that determine how the right is exercised, including protections for persons with limited capacity and the role of substitute decision-makers where appropriate.