Sexuality, disability and human rights : strengthening healthcare for disabled people
Date
2012-10
Authors
Mall, Sumaya
Swartz, Leslie
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG)
Abstract
The World Report on Disability by the World Health Organization and
the World Bank marks a watershed in the history of how disability should
be understood by healthcare practitioners. Along with a special issue of
the Lancet, this report marks recognition by organised healthcare that
healthcare practitioners acted paternalistically towards disabled people,
often deciding on their behalf what is in their best interests. South Africa
favours a human rights approach to disability, where the Constitution
mentions non-discrimination on the grounds of disability, and globally
through the promulgation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Historically, health practitioners
have underestimated the capacities of disabled people and from clinical
encounters view disability as an illness, whereas in reality most disabled
people are not ill.
Description
The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za
Keywords
People with disabilities -- Health care, People with disabilities -- Civil rights, Sexual health
Citation
Mall, S. & Swartz, L. 2012. Sexuality, disability and human rights: Strengthening healthcare for disabled people. South African Medical Journal, 102(10):792-793, doi:10.7196/SAMJ.6052.