Consent
Consent is the permission or agreement for something to happen.
It is should always be:
- considered- given with thought
- reversible- if someone changes their mind
- informed- understanding what is being agreed upon
- specific- clearly defined
- participatory- freely given, without pressure.
Everyone has the right to feel open to say yes or no without any pressure or manipulation. It is an ongoing conversation, and someone has the right to change their mind.
Consent is based on equality and there are certain situations where a person is unable to provide legitimate consent. These include someone who is:
- unconscious
- drunk or incapacitated
- asleep
- under-age.
Sexual consent is the agreement to sexual activity. It is often the most prominent form of consent. See Sexual consent for more information.
Other important types of consent including:
Medical consent
When someone agreed to a medical procedure after understanding the risks and benefits. For children and adolescents, this can be a guardian or the patient themselves. A doctor should deem them capable of understanding the consequences.
Research consent
Before joining a research study, people must agree to take part and understand what’s involved. The research group must gain consent from the participant for all aspects of the study. This is usually supplied in a Participant information sheet (PIS).
Implied consent
By joining certain activities there is implied consent that someone knows the risks of being involved. For examples, a boxer has implied consent when stepping into a ring that being hit is part of the game.