Sexual Rights and Disability

Abstract

This paper argues against Appel's recent proposal — in this journal — that there is a fundamental human right to sexual pleasure, and that therefore the sexual pleasure of severely disabled people should be publicly funded — by thereby partially legalising prostitution. An alternative is proposed that does not need to pose a new positive human right; does not need public funding; does not need the legalisation of prostitution; and that would offer a better experience to the severely disabled: charitable non-profit organisations whose members would voluntarily and freely provide sexual pleasure to the severely disabled.

Keywords: sexual rights, disability, applied ethics, bioethics, medical ethics