Could someone please link me to a legal definition of “consent”? I’m having a discussion with someone who seems to think that animals are capable of giving legal consent. I don’t think anything but a legal definition is going to dissuade him from this view. www.m-w.com just isn’t going to cut it.
Thanks.
Google gives various sources. A typical one says that conest is “voluntary agreement or approval as to some act or purpose”. It’s a trifle difficult to see how an animal could give this. Could you give us some samples of the logic you are facing here?
For “conest” read “consent”.
(I’m embarrassed to admit that I did preview.)
From [url-http://dictionary.law.com/]Law.com:
It strikes me that the person asserting that animals are legally capable of giving consent is the one who needs to provide a cite for the assertion. What authority does your friend cite to back up the claim?
I’m trying, but I’m laughing so hard I can barely type!
“Your honor…she consented.”
Hyperdictionary gives , as a definition of informed consent:
Many other sites offer similar definitions, often relating their definition to patients undergoing medical procedures.
“OK, Beau, this is liable to hurt a bit, and it’s going to kill your sex drive. You still good to go?”
“Rowrff”
“OTOH, that bitch next door isn’t going to make you crazy anymore! How about that?”
“Rowrff”
“OK, Doc, he’s on board. Snip 'em!”
If I had to guess I’d guess that that wouldn’t be an issue. As in, whenever consent is mentioned its something like “if a person consents…” or something, so there is nothing animals might be able to consent to…?