Editing Unconsciousness (section)

==Law and medicine==
[[File:Person passed out on sidewalk photographed with a dutch angle NYC.tif|thumb|Person passed out on a sidewalk in New York City, 2008]]In [[jurisprudence]], unconsciousness may entitle the [[criminal defendant]] to the [[defense (legal)|defense]] of [[automatism (law)|automatism]], i.e. a state without control of one's own actions, an [[excuse|excusing condition]] that allows a defendant to argue that they should not be held criminally [[Legal liability|liable]] for their actions or [[omission (criminal law)|omissions]]. In most countries, courts must consider whether unconsciousness in a situation can be accepted as a defense; it can vary from case to case. Hence [[epileptic seizure]]s, [[neurology|neurological]] dysfunctions and [[sleepwalking]] may be considered acceptable excusing conditions because the loss of control is not foreseeable, but falling asleep (especially while driving or during any other safety-critical activity) may not, because natural sleep rarely overcomes an ordinary person without warning.

In many countries, it is presumed that someone who is less than fully conscious cannot give [[consent]] to anything. This can be relevant in cases of [[sexual assault]], [[euthanasia]], or patients giving [[informed consent]] with regard to starting or stopping a medical treatment.