suostumus

Suostumus is the Finnish noun for consent. It denotes voluntary and informed agreement to participate in a proposed act, arrangement, or policy. The word is formed from the verb suostua, meaning to agree or to consent, with the noun suffix -mus, yielding suostumus.

In everyday language, suostumus refers to permission given for activities, medical treatment, or participation in research. In formal contexts, consent should be freely given, informed, and revocable, and it may be documented in writing through a suostumuslomake (consent form).

In legal and public-policy contexts, suostumus is a central concept. In health care, informed suostumus indicates that a patient understands the proposed procedure and agrees to it. In data protection and research ethics, processing of personal data or enrollment in studies requires suostumus from the individual, subject to applicable laws and safeguards.

In sexual and criminal-law contexts, suostumus is used to distinguish voluntary sexual activity from coercion. Finnish law treats sexual acts as lawful only when there is clear, voluntary consent, and the absence of consent can render acts illegal. Public discourse emphasizes affirmative, ongoing, and revocable consent.

Overall, suostumus is widely used in administrative, medical, and ethical discussions, as well as in everyday speech, to describe the permission given by an individual for a specific action or decision. Related terms include suostua (to consent) and various forms of consent documentation.