Consent

The act of giving one's permission. One must give consent for medical procedures, warrantless searches, contractual partnerships, and so forth. The age of consent refers to the legal age when one can consent to marriage, sexual relations, reproductive health exams, treatments, or procedures. A consent decree is a judicial order that mediates a conflict between opposing parties. Informed consent is a legal paper that is signed before submitting to a medical procedure, a contractual agreement, and so forth; it provides all the knowledge necessary to make an informed decision. Consent is also a defense that can be used in a criminal or civil trial to negate responsibility. For example, in rape cases, the defendant may claim that the victim consented to sexual activity. In civil action, the defendant may claim that the plaintiff consented to the terms of the agreement.