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Consent

Wed, 07/24/2019 - 23:28
Hello, I am new to this forum and haven't posted before. But I am in desperate need of help from people who understand. This is a very personal and delicate subject involving sex, so if you are not comfortable with that, please scroll on by. I have a postictal period of about 30 to 45 minutes where I am oriented to person, but not time or place. I also don't remember what happens during most of this period. During one of these periods, my boyfriend of 5 years was with me. After I was fully aware, he told me that I had initiated oral sex with him. I didn't remember it and was uncomfortable with it, so he promised not to do it again. But then it did happen again, and again he told me I initiated it. This time I was much more upset. I told him I felt violated and I made sure he he understood how significant this was to me emotionally. He swore it would never happen again. I've known him for 20 years and had never had reason not to trust him or be fearful of him so I believed him. Then it happened for a third time. I was shattered by this and broke up with him, because I knew I would never be able trust him again. My question for this group is whether that was considered consensual sex because I initiated it with my boyfriend and it was not forced, even if it happened during a time that I was not fully oriented and have no memory of it. I've searched the internet and have found no information about legal consent during a postictal state. I know it was morally wrong on his part and a betrayal of my trust. But does anyone know if it was legally wrong? I don't want to press charges, I'm really just trying hard to work through this experience.

Comments

Sorry to hear what has

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2019-07-25 - 10:15
Sorry to hear what has happened. We can not offer individual medical advice. A person's level of awareness and behavior can vary after a seizure, depending on many factors. I suggest that you talk to your treating neurologist or epilepsy specialist as he or she will be able to give you best guidance. The legal issues are different and would require legal expertise. After you talk to yourown medical tea, if you or they want guidance on legal issues related to epilepsy in the US, please contact our legal defense fund at the 24/7HELP line. https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/247-helpline

As a psychotherapist, I often

Submitted by Patriotrehab on Wed, 2019-08-28 - 23:59
As a psychotherapist, I often work with women on the importance of healthy boundaries in relationships.I would recommend that you establish what your boundaries are when it comes to sexual acts - what you will and will not do no matter what - when you are fully conscious and aware. I think you made the right choice to break up with him; he violated your trust after you expressed how hurt you were and he swore not to do it again. I had someone do something similar to me while I was completely unconscious during complex partial seizures. He would take it as his cue to violate me, all while calling my name and asking me if I was “ok”. People that do that kind of thing tend to have traits of antisocial personality disorder. They are very good liars and are charmers, but you need to protect yourself with healthy boundaries. I believe he took advantage of you and it’s unlikely that it was consensual. Forgive him so that anger and resentment don’t destroy you. 

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