Legal Definitions - general consent

Definition: General consent refers to a type of consent where a person gives permission for something to happen without specifying the details of what they are agreeing to. It can also refer to a situation where a person has given consent in the past and that consent is assumed to still be valid.

Example 1: A patient signs a general consent form at a hospital, giving permission for medical treatment to be administered as needed. This means that the patient is agreeing to any necessary medical procedures without specifying exactly what those procedures are.

Example 2: A person agrees to participate in a research study and signs a general consent form. This means that they are giving permission for the researchers to collect data from them, but they may not know exactly what types of questions they will be asked or what tests they will have to undergo.

These examples illustrate how general consent can be used in different situations where a person is giving permission for something to happen without specifying the details. It is important to note that general consent should always be given voluntarily and with a full understanding of the potential risks and benefits involved.