Intellectual Disability and the Right to a Sexual Life

Taylor & Francis

One of the perennial political/philosophical questions concerns whether it is ever justifiable for a third party to paternalistically restrict an adult\u2019s freedom to ensure their own, or society\u2019s, best interests are protected. Wherever one stands on this debate it remains the case that, unlike their non-impaired contemporaries, many intellectually disabled adults are subjected to a paternalistic regime of care. This is particularly the case regarding members of this population exercising more control of their sexuality.