title: Ethical aspects of competence for sexual relationships: a case of adult sibling incest.
abstract: A case of adult sibling incest serves as the occasion to review relevant literature and discuss issues related to competence to consent to sexual relations between adults. The case was presented at ethics rounds at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center (Boston, MA), and the resulting discussion is analyzed as to the decision making with which the treatment team is faced. The relationships among competence and competence assessment, autonomy, morality, and countertransference issues are also considered in this provocative case.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Gutheil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003657:Decision Making; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D005610:Freedom; D006801:Humans; D007179:Incest / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D008404:Massachusetts; D016743:Mental Competency; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012801:Sibling Relations; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence