TY - JOUR
T1 - Is conversion therapy ethical? A renewed discussion in the context of legal efforts to ban it
AU - Andrade, G.
AU - Campo Redondo, M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS
PY - 2022/2
Y1 - 2022/2
N2 - Background: Although homosexuality ceased to be considered a mental disorder in 1973, some psychiatrists and mental health practitioners still offer so-called conversion therapy, i.e., a series of techniques that attempt to change a person's sexual orientation. Given the current geopolitical situation worldwide, some countries have begun to attempt to ban conversion therapy. In this context, it is important to renew a discussion about the ethics of conversion therapy. Methodology: In this article, we rely on a review of scientific literature in order to analyze the most important ethical shortcomings of conversion therapy, focusing on its potential harms, lack of efficiency, and its disregard for basic principles of medical ethics. Results: Literature on the effectiveness of conversion therapy reveals that this approach has more risks than benefits, and rests upon scientifically questionable premises. Conclusion: We conclude that, although morality and legality are separate spheres, conversion therapy should be legally banned.
AB - Background: Although homosexuality ceased to be considered a mental disorder in 1973, some psychiatrists and mental health practitioners still offer so-called conversion therapy, i.e., a series of techniques that attempt to change a person's sexual orientation. Given the current geopolitical situation worldwide, some countries have begun to attempt to ban conversion therapy. In this context, it is important to renew a discussion about the ethics of conversion therapy. Methodology: In this article, we rely on a review of scientific literature in order to analyze the most important ethical shortcomings of conversion therapy, focusing on its potential harms, lack of efficiency, and its disregard for basic principles of medical ethics. Results: Literature on the effectiveness of conversion therapy reveals that this approach has more risks than benefits, and rests upon scientifically questionable premises. Conclusion: We conclude that, although morality and legality are separate spheres, conversion therapy should be legally banned.
KW - Conversion therapy
KW - Efficacy
KW - Ethics
KW - Homosexuality
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jemep.2021.100732
DO - 10.1016/j.jemep.2021.100732
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85148360347
SN - 2352-5533
VL - 20
JO - Ethics, Medicine and Public Health
JF - Ethics, Medicine and Public Health
M1 - 100732
ER -