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Mental Health Act 2007

24.Clinically, neither promiscuity nor “other immoral conduct” by itself is regarded as a mental disorder, so the deletion of that exclusion makes no practical difference. Similarly, sexual orientation (homo-, hetero- and bi-sexuality) alone is not regarded as a mental disorder. However, there are disorders of sexual preference which are recognised clinically as mental disorders. Some of these disorders might be considered “sexual deviance” in the terms of the current exclusion (for example paraphilias like fetishism or paedophilia.) On that basis, the amendment would bring such disorders within the scope of the 1983 Act.

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