The issues of consent in criminal law remain contentious despite numerous efforts and are far from a generally accepted solution. This study aims to invigorate the stagnant discussion by addressing all questions, the scope of application, and the prerequisites for the effectiveness of consent, with a focus on the fundamental principle of individual self-determination. Only by placing special emphasis on this principle can a verifiable and consistent assessment be achieved, as well as the preservation of an independent scope of application for consent. In particular, when examining the relevance of defects in will, it must be taken into account that the individual's right to self-determination also corresponds with personal responsibility. The parallel drawn here between the issues of consent and the requirements for indirect perpetration in cases of self-harm adequately reflects this relationship.