An ethical model for responding to the sexual fetish of a man with intellectual disability

Aim: This paper outlines an ethical model for developing individual psycho-educational work aimed at supporting a man with ID and a sexual fetish, relating to infantilism and use of nappies.

Method: A case study approach will be used to describe the approach adopted and the issues that arose. These include the management of conflicts between individual rights and service responsibilities.

Results: A rights-based approach which emphasized advocacy achieved positive outcomes for the person. Mediated dialogue provided an effective technique for resolving conflicts of interest and experience between the person and the service.

Conclusions: Clarity in the values and principles underpinning individual psycho-educational work was required to safeguard the rights of the person to safe sexual expression and to combat the pathologization of sexual fetish.