An Error of Judgement: a play about the sexual abuse of people with learning disability

John H M Crichton

doi:10.1192/pb.22.6.384

Abstract

In recent years, psychiatrists have become much more aware of the sexual abuse of adults with a learning disability. Having struggled with such a case, which raised challenging problems of law, ethics and management (Crichton, 1997), I turned to the literature to help inform me about the subject. There I found helpful statistics from recent surveys, but sometimes such material fails to convey the true nature of what is a distressing and painful subject. To my astonishment I discovered that at a local theatre there was to be a performance on this very theme: An Error of Judgement I had heard of the Strathcona Theatre Company, a touring company of eight learning disabled professional actors who, with the assistance of two directors, devise the original plays they perform, but I had no idea of what the evening was going to be like.

Highlights

From the literature about the sexual abuse of those with learning disability
In just over half the cases the victim was first to raise the issue of abuse, in 12% of cases overall the perpetrator confessed. susIpnecBtreodwnoret'partosve(n1' 99c5as)ess,tud9y1,%oof fthpeerp8e5trahtiogrhsly were male, 81% were known to the victim, 53% were other service users. 20% were staff and 8% family members
Study may partly reflect the reluctance to bring prosecutions against perpetrators with a learning disability (4% of user perpetrators were prose cuted compared to 14% of family member perpe trators), the low numbers make any interpretation difficult

Summary

Introduction

From the literature about the sexual abuse of those with learning disability. Brown et al (1995) drew the following consensus of opinion: both men and women are victims; the perpetrators are most commonly men, known to the victim rather than strangers: perpetrators are commonly in positions of trust and authority; current perpe trators often will have abused victims in the past: and that there are four groups of perpetrator: staff, family, family friends, and others with a learning disability. Brown et al (1995) conducted a retro spective study into cases of sexual abuse of adults with a learning disability in a large regional health authority. Several of the staff members accused of abuse resigned or moved following disciplinary proce dures; 13% of learning-disabled perpetrators were moved.

Results

Conclusion