Sexual rights, mental disorder and intellectual disability: practical implications for policy makers and practitioners

Dewson, Helen, Rix, Keith J. B., Le Gallez, Isabelle and Choong, Kartina Aisha orcid iconORCID: 0000-0001-9407-1771 (2018) Sexual rights, mental disorder and intellectual disability: practical implications for policy makers and practitioners. BJPsych Advances, 24 (6). pp. 386-397. ISSN 2056-4678

[thumbnail of AAM]
Preview
PDF (AAM) - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

127kB

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bja.2018.40

Abstract

Clear policies regarding sexual expression, sexual behaviour and related decision-making assist in ensuring that the rights of people with mental disorder or intellectual disability are upheld, and that staff know how to react to situations consistently and lawfully without interfering on the basis of their own moral judgements or personal beliefs. Sensitive and holistic planning of care that complies with domestic law, international human rights law and statutory guidance is necessary to complement such policies. Non-intimate physical contact, masturbation, sexual relationships, contraception, sterilisation and vasectomy, pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, sexual dysfunction, parenthood, marriage and civil partnership, divorce, prostitution, pornography, and sex aids and toys are all matters that may properly be part of care planning.


Repository Staff Only: item control page