Assent

Assent is the expression of agreement or concurrence with a proposal, statement, or course of action. It denotes approval of the content or plan but does not necessarily imply full permission or legal rights, which is more typical of consent. The term derives from Latin assentire, from ad- “toward” and sentire “to feel, think.”

Assent can be explicit, such as a spoken yes or a written agreement, or it can be implied by conduct that clearly indicates agreement. In everyday language, assent and consent are often used interchangeably, but in certain professional contexts they have distinct meanings.

In law and ethics, the concept appears in several forms. In contract law, assent is the agreement to the terms offered, usually expressed as acceptance; the formation of a contract requires offer, acceptance, and consideration, with assent as the outward manifestation of acceptance. In medical ethics and research involving human subjects, assent denotes a child’s or individual’s affirmative agreement to participate, when possible, and is sought in addition to guardians’ informed consent; it recognizes developing autonomy and is ethically required when the participant can understand the proposed procedure. Capacity and age vary by jurisdiction and context.

Philosophically, assent refers to the intellect’s agreement with a proposition or belief, not necessarily a decision to act. It can be evaluated for authenticity or susceptibility to coercion.

Practical considerations include ensuring voluntariness and adequate information, assessing capacity, and guarding against coercion or manipulation. When capacity is lacking, guardians or surrogates decide, ideally in the person’s best interests, rather than on the person’s stated assent.