nõusoleku

Nõusoleku, in Estonian, refers to the act of giving consent or assent to a proposal, action, or data processing. The term is commonly used in legal, medical, and administrative contexts, and its genitive form nõusoleku appears in phrases such as nõusoleku andmine (granting consent), nõusoleku keelamine (revoking consent), and nõusoleku andmete (consent data). Etymologically, it derives from the verb nõustuma (to agree) and denotes a state of voluntary agreement.

In legal and ethical settings, consent is a foundational requirement for many activities. Key elements generally include voluntariness, knowledge of relevant facts, specificity to the given act, and the ability to withdraw consent at any time. Consent is typically invalid if obtained through coercion, deception, manipulation, or when the person lacks the capacity to understand the implications. For minors or persons with limited decision-making capacity, supplementary consent from a guardian or legally authorized representative may be required.

Estonian law and EU regulations influence how nõusolek is obtained and documented, particularly in contexts such as medical treatment, contractual arrangements, and data processing. Under data protection rules, for example, processing of personal data often relies on a valid consent that is informed, explicit in certain cases, and revocable. In practice, institutions use explicit consent forms and clear language to ensure that individuals understand what they agree to and can withdraw later.

See also: informed consent, sexual consent, medical consent, data processing consent.