Sexual rights: Balancing organisational and individual needs in longer term care environments

Sexual rights are concerned with human dignity, respecting one's sexual autonomy, and being aware that the moralistic views held by another is no reason for restricting the sexual lives of others. People have the right to understand and value their own body, to feel free to seek pleasure, and that they can pursue these rights with correct information and being free of criticism from others. When considering sexual relationships between inpatients we are faced with dilemmas. There are sexual safety concerns for those who are considered vulnerable, the difficulties regarding consent, and the provision of a dignified private place for intimacy to occur. This presentation reports initial findings from a qualitative research project at an Australian forensic mental health hospital exploring the possible barriers and benefits towards sexual relationships between consenting adult patients. The research explores the views of 12 nurses and 10 patients in continuing care units. Providing a valuable insight towards the sexual needs of patients and the attitudes of nurses. Both participant groups consider having sex as normal human behaviour. The nurses discuss that they should be supportive of patients who develop these relationships but remain concerned about potential risks. The patient participants believe that there is too much emphasis on risk and rarely experience support from staff. Despite clear therapeutic goals existing, punitive measures occur which the patients view as a violation of their human rights. This presentation presents an argument for services to challenge practices that deny the sexual rights of patients