Biomaterial Database

Ethical aspects of sexual medicine. 2005

Gorm Wagner, and Pierre Bondil, and Khalid Dabees, and John Dean, and Jean Fourcroy, and Clive Gingell, and Sheryl Kingsberg, and Prakash Kothari, and Eusebio Rubio-Aurioles, and Fernando Ugarte, and R Vela Navarrete

University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. gorm@mfi.ku.dk

BACKGROUND Ethics describe the ways in which moral life is understood. Morality comprises norms for human conduct, and addresses what is right and what is wrong. OBJECTIVE To provide a consensus-based summary of the ethical aspects of sexual medicine. METHODS Over 200 multidisciplinary specialists from 60 countries were divided into 17 consultation committees as part of a process organized by an international consultation on sexual medicine held in Paris, June 28-July 1, 2003 in close alliance with several sexual medicine organizations. Embarking on a study on ethics in sexual medicine, 10 experts from eight countries assembled over a two-year period to develop this consensus-based summary. METHODS Although ethics are recognized as subjective, expert opinion was based on grading of evidence-based medical literature, in addition to cultural and ethical considerations. The process also involved extensive internal committee discussion, public presentation, and debate. RESULTS Contemporary medical practitioners provide health care for patients from many different cultures from all around the world. Thus, it is recommended that all health professionals working in sexual medicine should above all be able to demonstrate respect, understanding, and tolerance toward the differing moral worldviews of their patients and colleagues, and the societies they represent. In sexual medicine, health professionals have an obligation to respect the autonomy of any individual that they treat, regardless of that individual's religious or socio-cultural tradition, race, gender, or sexual orientation. Sexual rights are a necessary condition for sexual health. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected, and fulfilled. CONCLUSIONS Additional discussion and research on ethics in sexual medicine is needed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009014	Morals	Standards of conduct that distinguish right from wrong.	Morality
D010817	Physician-Patient Relations	The interactions between physician and patient.	Doctor-Patient Relations,Doctor Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relationship,Doctor Patient Relation,Doctor-Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relationships,Physician-Patient Relation,Relation, Doctor Patient,Relation, Doctor-Patient,Relation, Physician Patient,Relation, Physician-Patient,Relations, Doctor Patient,Relations, Doctor-Patient,Relations, Physician Patient,Relations, Physician-Patient,Relationship, Physician Patient,Relationships, Physician Patient
D010819	Physician's Role	The expected function of a member of the medical profession.	Physicians' Role,Physician Role,Physician's Roles,Physicians Role,Physicians' Roles,Role, Physician's,Role, Physicians',Roles, Physician's,Roles, Physicians'
D004992	Ethics, Medical	The principles of professional conduct concerning the rights and duties of the physician, relations with patients and fellow practitioners, as well as actions of the physician in patient care and interpersonal relations with patient families.	Medical Ethics
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006806	Human Rights	The right of the individual to cultural, social, economic, and educational opportunities as provided by society, e.g., right to work, right to education, and right to social security.	Linguistic Rights,Right to Housing and Shelter,Rights of Indigenous Peoples,Collective Human Rights,Equal Rights,Human Rights, Collective,Indigenous Peoples Rights,Rights, Collective Human,Rights, Equal,Rights, Linguistic
D013038	Specialization	An occupation limited in scope to a subsection of a broader field.	Specialism,Specialists,Specialist
D044347	Sexology	This discipline concerns the study of SEXUALITY, and the application of sexual knowledge such as sexual attitudes, psychology, and SEXUAL BEHAVIOR. Scope of application generally includes educational (SEX EDUCATION), clinical (SEX COUNSELING), and other settings.
D018864	Cultural Diversity	Coexistence of numerous distinct ethnic, racial, religious, or cultural groups within one social unit, organization, or population. (From American Heritage Dictionary, 2d college ed., 1982, p955)	Multiculturalism,Pluralism,Cultural Pluralism,Cultural Diversities,Diversities, Cultural,Diversity, Cultural,Multiculturalisms,Pluralism, Cultural,Pluralisms
D026684	Personal Autonomy	Self-directing freedom and especially moral independence. An ethical principle holds that the autonomy of persons ought to be respected. (Bioethics Thesaurus)	Autonomy, Personal,Free Will,Self Determination