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Consent can be withdrawn at any time and under certain conditions cannot be given due to incapacity. For example, a person who is severely intoxicated, under the influence of drugs, or asleep cannot give valid consent because they temporarily lack the capacity.<ref>[http://law.cornell.edu/wex/capacity Cornell Law: Capacity]</ref> Mental capacity refers to a person's ability to understand information, make rational decisions, and express themselves.<ref>[http://law.cornell.edu/wex/mental_competence Cornell Law: Mental Capacity]</ref>  
Consent can be withdrawn at any time and under certain conditions cannot be given due to incapacity. For example, a person who is severely intoxicated, under the influence of drugs, or asleep cannot give valid consent because they temporarily lack the capacity.<ref>[http://law.cornell.edu/wex/capacity Cornell Law: Capacity]</ref> Mental capacity refers to a person's ability to understand information, make rational decisions, and express themselves.<ref>[http://law.cornell.edu/wex/mental_competence Cornell Law: Mental Capacity]</ref>  


Most countries have laws stipulating that people under a certain age cannot sign legal contracts, and in the United States such contracts are voidable in court. Countries commonly legislate that people under a certain age cannot consent to sexual relationships, subject to a variety of exceptions. "Romeo and Juliet" (close-in-age) exemptions allow young people within a set number of years to give consent to sex with one another. The [[Age of Consent|age of consent]] and exceptions vary widely from country to country and within countries, reflecting the arbitrary nature of [[Wikipedia:Age of consent|Age of consent laws]] and a misunderstanding of physiological and neurological development.<ref name="Vox">[https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2017/11/20/16677180/age-consent-teenage-psychology-law-roy-moore Vox: Age of consent and Teen Psychology]</ref> The same person may be legally capable of consenting to sex in one jurisdiction but not in another regardless of their individual capacity, mental competence, and willingness based solely on physical age.<ref name="chnm">[https://chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/teaching-modules/230.html chnm.gmu.edu: Arbitrary sex laws]</ref>
Most countries have laws stipulating that people under a certain age cannot sign legal contracts, and in the United States such contracts are voidable in court. Countries commonly legislate that people under a certain age cannot consent to sexual relationships, subject to a variety of exceptions. "Romeo and Juliet" (close-in-age) exemptions allow young people within a set number of years to give consent to sex with one another. The [[Age of Consent|age of consent]] and exceptions vary widely from country to country and within countries, reflecting the arbitrary nature of [[Wikipedia:Age of consent|Age of consent laws]]<ref name="Vox">[https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2017/11/20/16677180/age-consent-teenage-psychology-law-roy-moore Vox: Age of consent and Teen Psychology]. Please note that while some points made in this article are commonsense, it relies upon outdated and misguided interpretations of brain imaging data in making claims about the [[Research: Cognitive ability|cognitive capacities]] of young people.</ref> and the failure of lawmakers to agree on a common standard of physiological and neurological development ([[Research: Cognitive ability|to the extent that it even exists]]). The same person may be legally capable of consenting to sex in one jurisdiction but not in another regardless of their individual capacity, mental competence, and willingness based solely on physical age.<ref name="chnm">[https://chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/teaching-modules/230.html chnm.gmu.edu: Arbitrary sex laws]</ref>


<blockquote>''The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals boasts three different ages of consent — Indiana: 16, Illinois: 17, and Wisconsin: 18. I defy anyone to tell me that teens in Indiana are more mature than those in Wisconsin. Maybe Indiana legislators simply don’t believe in the science of adolescent development?''<ref name="Vox" />
<blockquote>''The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals boasts three different ages of consent — Indiana: 16, Illinois: 17, and Wisconsin: 18. I defy anyone to tell me that teens in Indiana are more mature than those in Wisconsin. Maybe Indiana legislators simply don’t believe in the science of adolescent development?''<ref name="Vox" />

Revision as of 11:45, 15 March 2023

A personal example of consent and its flaws

Consent is the willingness and agreement to engage in an act or proposal made by another party. Consent must be given voluntarily without the person being subject to force, coercion, or deception. Consent can be express or implied and must be given by someone with the capacity and mental competence to understand the act in question.[1][2]

Express consent is given directly in writing or spoken aloud. Implied consent is given via action or conduct.[3][4]

Limitations of consent

Consent can be withdrawn at any time and under certain conditions cannot be given due to incapacity. For example, a person who is severely intoxicated, under the influence of drugs, or asleep cannot give valid consent because they temporarily lack the capacity.[5] Mental capacity refers to a person's ability to understand information, make rational decisions, and express themselves.[6]

Most countries have laws stipulating that people under a certain age cannot sign legal contracts, and in the United States such contracts are voidable in court. Countries commonly legislate that people under a certain age cannot consent to sexual relationships, subject to a variety of exceptions. "Romeo and Juliet" (close-in-age) exemptions allow young people within a set number of years to give consent to sex with one another. The age of consent and exceptions vary widely from country to country and within countries, reflecting the arbitrary nature of Age of consent laws[7] and the failure of lawmakers to agree on a common standard of physiological and neurological development (to the extent that it even exists). The same person may be legally capable of consenting to sex in one jurisdiction but not in another regardless of their individual capacity, mental competence, and willingness based solely on physical age.[8]

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals boasts three different ages of consent — Indiana: 16, Illinois: 17, and Wisconsin: 18. I defy anyone to tell me that teens in Indiana are more mature than those in Wisconsin. Maybe Indiana legislators simply don’t believe in the science of adolescent development?[7]

Many states also make exceptions to the age of consent law for married partners who may be under the local age of consent or married, with permission of their parents, to an older partner.[9]

History and modern interpretation

The first laws governing consent and age come from English law in 1275 where it was a misdemeanor to "ravish" a maiden below the marriageable age of 12 with or without consent.[8] The modern descendants of these laws violate the fundamental principle of bodily autonomy: That a person has fundamental control and ownership of their body. Age of consent laws are primarily used to pursue cases where both partners willingly agreed to sex or where the case is marginal. The cases can be pursued by district attorneys without cooperation of the minor and even over the protests of the person being 'protected' by the law. Cases of non-consensual sex could be pursued under rape and assault laws, but those laws aren't relevant to sex between willing people.[9]

In the United States (at the time of writing) the youngest age of sexual consent is 16 years old in 33 states, 17 years in 6 states and 18 years in the rest, placing the nation among the most puritanical, along with the UK.

In one example, that is correct at the time of writing:

  • A teen who lived in Washington State could legally consent to sex with an older partner of 22 for example. But if they traveled to California the next day, the same person could not legally consent to sex with another 16-year-old, because there is no "Romeo and Juliet" exemption under Californian law, and the age of consent is 18. Legally, both teens would be committing sexual assault on one another, while in turn, both being assaulted!

"Informed Consent"

Humorous take on the limitations of Informed Consent

Informed Consent is a clinical term relating to medical and research situations. Patients and research participants have the right to ask questions, be given relevant information that a reasonable person would want to have to make an informed decision. The information should be in language that is understandable to them. They should be made aware that participation or treatment is voluntary.[10] A provider seeking informed consent must judge the patient's decision-making capacity and ability to understand relevant treatment information. Informed consent can be given even when an inducement such as money is involved.[11] "Broad consent" refers to how consent is uses colloquially outside clinical situations.

Gallery

  • US reaction to AoC law (humor)
    US reaction to AoC law (humor)
  • Consent examples (info)
    Consent examples (info)
  • AoC is a western concept (info)
    AoC is a western concept (info)

See also

In-house essays

References

  1. ↑ Cornell Law: Consent
  2. ↑ Merriam Webster (Dictionary): Consent
  3. ↑ Wilson Law: Express and Implied consent
  4. ↑ Legal Dictionary: Implied Consent
  5. ↑ Cornell Law: Capacity
  6. ↑ Cornell Law: Mental Capacity
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Vox: Age of consent and Teen Psychology. Please note that while some points made in this article are commonsense, it relies upon outdated and misguided interpretations of brain imaging data in making claims about the cognitive capacities of young people.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 chnm.gmu.edu: Arbitrary sex laws
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 shouselaw.com: Example of parental consent exemption
  10. ↑ hhs.gov: Informed Consent
  11. ↑ ama-assn.org: Ethics: Informed Consent
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