consents

Consent is a voluntary agreement to an action or proposal, given by a person who has the capacity to decide and who has received adequate information. In ethics and law, consent should be informed, specific, freely given, and revocable. It may be express (explicit permission, written or spoken) or implied (inferred from actions). The validity of consent requires that the decision-maker understand relevant information, not be coerced, and have the opportunity to withdraw at any time.

In medicine, informed consent is the standard for procedures and treatments. It requires disclosure of the procedure, potential risks and benefits, alternatives, and consequences of non-treatment, as well as assessment of the patient’s capacity. Minors or incapacitated individuals require a legal surrogate or guardian. In emergencies, consent may be waived when immediate action is necessary to prevent harm.

In research, informed consent is ordinarily required, with an emphasis on voluntary participation and the right to withdraw, and oversight by ethics committees. Some low-risk studies may use waivers or alterations of consent under strict criteria.

In data protection and digital services, consent is a basis for processing personal data. Laws such as GDPR require consent to be freely given, specific, informed, and revocable, with clear mechanisms to withdraw. Consent is also central to governance of data retention and usage policies, and it should be revisited as circumstances change.

Notions of consent vary by jurisdiction and context, including age of consent and capacity. Ethical practice treats consent as an ongoing process rather than a one-off form.