The Law, Dementia, and Sexuality-Is the Law Striking the Right Balance?

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

English and Welsh laws require "contemporaneous" consent to sexual relations, often precluding "non-capacituos" people living with advanced dementia from these human interactions.

Research design and methods

The views of people living with dementia, carers, professionals, and over-55s were explored on implications of current laws on sexuality in dementia. Thirty-five participants from England were recruited through purposive selective sampling. Audio-taped semistructured interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed with each stakeholder group coded separately.

Results

Common themes across stakeholders were (i) law reform needed due to their hammer-like effect ignoring the individual; (ii) dissonant theme of needing the law for protec

SUBMITTER: Sorinmade O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11472172 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature