Striking a balance between safety and free expression of sexuality.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 emphasises the importance of assessing people’s capacity to make decisions about their lives. This is especially important when assessing vulnerable people’s ability to consent to sexual relationships. This is a complex issue because a balance must be struck between the...
| Published in: | Learning Disability Practice Vol. 18; no. 6; pp. 36 - 40 |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Royal College of Nursing of the United Kingdom (The)
Jul2015
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| Summary: | The Mental Capacity Act 2005 emphasises the importance of assessing people’s capacity to make decisions about their lives. This is especially important when assessing vulnerable people’s ability to consent to sexual relationships. This is a complex issue because a balance must be struck between the need to safeguard people with learning disabilities from exploitation and abuse, and the need to promote their autonomy. This article discusses these issues, and the role of learning disability nurses in balancing risk with choice when consent to a sexual relationship is explored. It concludes that there is a relationship between improved sexual education and empowering people to make decisions about sexual relationships. |
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