Three intellectually disabled men are seeking compensation from the Government for ill treatment while in care

Intellectually disabled patients in care should be able to have sex and hire sex workers, the lawyer for three men suing the Government has told a judge.

The men, whose names are suppressed, are seeking from $565,000 for Patient X to $395,000 for Patient Y and Z.

All of the men involved have IQs under 70, health problems, bipolar disorders, personality disorders and autism.

They had been made special patients after coming before the courts on violence charges.

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One has been in care for 17 years, one for 14 and the third was released after 13 years.

They are suing the Waitemata and Capital & Coast district health boards, the Attorney-General, the Mental Health Review Tribunal and the District Inspector who deny the claims.

Human rights lawyer Tony Ellis continued outlining his case to Justice Rebecca Ellis in the High Court in Wellington on Thursday.

He said they were not allowed to touch another person to give them a hug or a kiss.

"The destruction of their psyche is very worrying. "

He said if they wanted to hire a sex worker outside the unit where they were in care, they should be allowed to.

He accepted that it was trickier if they were only allowed to be inside the unit.

Ellis said they were denied the right to have relationships, marry, have a civil union, procreate or even properly explore their sexuality.

He said there was an absence of any sex education and even though it was acknowledged that sex happened in the units, no birth control or condoms were available.

He told the judge the men were secluded because it was easy and medicated without their consent.

Ellis said it was impossible to get consent for their own treatment so they are medicated for their own good.

Patient Z had been experimented on by being given multiple medications. At times he was punished by being put into seclusion when he was exhibiting side effects of the medication he did not consent to take.

Their living conditions were minimal, sterile and bland, lacking mental stimulation, he said.

Their own belongings were removed like clothing, shoes, nightwear, bedding, toiletries, items of sentimental value, photographs, artwork, letters, heaters, computers, television, stereos and furniture.

They are not allowed reading material other than what is provided or allowed food and drinks of their own choosing.

He has previously told the judge that the men were being warehoused and had become institutionalised. They were locked up for prolonged periods, sometimes without access to toilets, forcibly medicated and restrained.

The hearing is expected to take six weeks.