Gay patients urged to confide in doctors

[kweerwolf]

Dr. Mark Loafman, family practitioner and adviser to the Oak Park Department of Health, recognizes the importance of knowing the sexual orientation of his patients.

"If someone is afraid to tell a physician about their sexual orientation, it creates barriers for obtaining quality health care," Loafman told a group of patients and physicians at a recent round-table discussion. "Sex in general is a difficult topic to discuss with a physician. But both the patient and the doctor have a responsibility to bring up the topic."

The discussion was held in conjunction with a diversity health fair targeting the gay and lesbian community on Saturday in Oak Park.

The free event, which was a collaborative effort between the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association (OPALGA), the Oak Park Health Department and the PCC Wellness Center of Oak Park, offered health screenings, including blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, bone density, body mass index, HIV and sexually transmitted disease tests.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/west/chi-0512140292dec14,1,5385304.story?coll=chi-newslocalwest-hed

Having worked in health care, I can understand the need to come out to one's physician because there are health issues particular to LGBT patients (life, for instance, the recommendation that sexually active gay men get a periodic anal Pap smear).

However - and this is a big concern - there is a lot of homophobia in health care and the fear is that LGBT patients will receive a lower standard of care.

It's tough to find a health care provider who understands LGBT-specific health issues and is "gay-friendly." When I switched insurance coverage several years ago I had to fight with the company to provide names of physicians who provided LGBT health care. The company's first response was "Oh ... so you need an AIDS doctor?" Then I had to go through all the corporate-speak of "all our physicians provide care regardless of a patient's race, creed, religion, etc., etc. ... and sexual orientation." The insurance companies don't seem to realize that there's a BIG gap between a "tolerant" doctor and one who is "accepting." I ended up with a physician who asked me to take an AIDS test ... to which I replied "Is this something you require of heteroseual patients, too?" Needless to say, I switched physicians and threatened to file a complaint against the insurance company who sent me to him after claiming their physicians didn't discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.

OK ... enough of a rant. I know there are supportive physicians out there. I just wish they were more accessible.

[xchrom]

1. several years ago -- i had a homophobic dermotologist.

it was my second round with malignant skin cancer --when i first had my intake with this doctor -- he was new to me -- i came out to him.

after taking a legthy look at my lesion on my shoulder -- and some curious comments that i let slide off - - he said the lesion on my shoulder could be syphilis.

i knew it wasn't -- and after the removal and biopsy confirmed it as a malignancy -- and i started chemo under my regular doctors care -- i related the story.

i was so angry -- furious at his running commentary -- you can't believe.

[bammertheblue]

2. How would you possibly get

syphilis on your shoulder anyway? I don't get it.

[xchrom]

8. exactly

advanced syphilitic lesions could appear anywhere.

but without knowing me -- or knowing enough -- he just laid the syphilis thing on me.

[bammertheblue]

10. What a moran.

I had a doctor tell me my Lyme disease rash (on my back) was herpes!
Maybe we should start a club.

[xchrom]

12. yep -- you were a victim of whatever psychological illness

your dr. had.

they can't come out and not treat if we come out to them or they suspect we are gay -- but they can drop psych bombs, snide comments, etc.

[bammertheblue]

13. At the time

I actually looked way more butch than usual- I worked at a camp (hence the tick bite) so I was dressed very outdoorsy, no makeup, etc. and looked like a stereotypical "butch" lesbian.(Except I'm bi, but some people think it's all the same thing).
But I think the doctor (not my regular, an urgent care doc) might have just been stupid- the bite looked EXACTLY like a bullseye. A ten year old could have diagnosed me.

[sui generis]

3. "sexually active gay men get a periodic anal Pap smear"

well, specifically those who catch more often than pitch, I presume.

Best thing is go find yourself a gay doctor if you can. Gay yellow pages.

They will recommend "family friendly" physicians and specialists and Dr. Syphilis incidents will happen a lot less.

That's terrible - how old was the dermy? A lot of old school docs still look at gays as complex pathologies instead of people.

[liontamer]

6. i actually really hate the sexuality specific tests

take the whole hepatitis b thing.
I went to get a vaccine, but I was told it was really unnecessary because I don't work in a hospital setting. But now people are out there saying that gay and bi men should all vaccinate themselves. :wtf: I understand the need to vaccinate a community that is at higher risk, but this is one case where they really need to actually seperate based on activity.
Not all gay men have anal sex, and plenty of people who aren't gay men do. I hate when drs make a whole string of assumptions based on sexuality.

[xchrom]

9. he was in his sixties.

i have a woman doctor -- very gay friendly -- if a bit wicked and crusty.

she is delighted that men -- who upon finding out that they have to have a pap smear are suddenly VERY uncomfortable.
she is exactly the same when she mentions colonoscopies.

quite the wicked cackle.

[BeeBee]

4. I had a doctor once who said

"If you're not comfortable telling your doctor you're gay, you've got the wrong doctor."

[kansasblue]

5. My good friend uses Kaiser Permanente (HMO) and they....

do it this way:

Q 'so, are you currently sexually active?"

A 'yes'

Q 'ok.. do you have sex with men or women or both?"


he said it was just part of the interview and it just flowed in a non-judgmental way with about 50 other questions


Cool

[swimmernsecretsea]

11. I use Kaiser Permanenté also, and I have a great doctor.

I am comfortable with him and completely honest. I've had specific questions about same-sex related sexual and health issues and he's answered everything in a non-judgemental and helpful way. Not only that, but he's very friendly and sympathetic. He isn't gay either, but I don't see that as a problem. There've been occasions where I had to ask issues that were very personal, and with almost anyone else I would have felt squeamish doing so, but he encouraged me to talk openly. If I ever felt the least bit uncomfortable or that he wasn't fully interested in my health I'd not go to him. Being from San Francisco, there are plenty of other choices here, thank goodness.

[William769]

7. You should be honest with your doctor about your sexuality

If you can't, you need to find another Doctor.

[kevinbgoode]

14. I'm careful about trusting doctors too. . .

and I'm sure as hell not gonna trust some quack who is a member of the "Christian" Medical Association. . .so unless these doctors would like to disclose their professional/religious affiliations, they ain't gonna get much out of me at all.

[MountainLaurel]

15. Amen

No pun intended. I was searching through their list of doctors, and found one of the docs who teaches family medicine residents at the university where I work. I lost all respect for her in that moment, knowing that she's likely not giving equal health care to all her patients.