Doctors need to protect colleagues and patients from sexual orientation discrimination, says BMA report

(issued Monday 20 Jun 2005)


‘When I started medical school I said I wanted to do paediatrics and people said, “ you can’t because you are a gay man”.’*

Doctors should do all they can to protect patients and colleagues from discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, a new BMA report says today (Monday, 20 June 2005).

The report ‘Sexual Orientation in the Workplace’ which is released at the start of the Gay Pride festival fortnight, comes in the wake of recent legislation** making it illegal to discriminate against someone on the grounds of their sexual orientation.

The BMA guidance presents essential information for combating discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the medical workplace and recommends:
  • Changing the culture of the workplace so that doctors feel more secure in ‘coming-out’ to their colleagues
  • Including sexual orientation guidance in equal opportunities policies and procedures
  • Helping to reduce feelings of isolation by challenging homophobia in the workplace and educating other staff about sexual orientation

Commenting on the report, Dr Rachel Hogg Co-chair of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Doctors and Dentists (GLADD) said: “This is an important new report from the BMA which will be useful for both doctors and managers. The NHS currently uses an estimate that at least 1 in 20 of the population are lesbian or gay – so an increased awareness that colleagues and patients may not be heterosexual is crucial to treating each other sensitively and respectfully.”

Anecdotes in the report show gay patients are often reluctant to reveal their sexual orientation to their doctor because they feel the reaction might be negative. The report makes suggestions as to how doctors can be more sensitive to these patients needs:
  • Reassuring patients that they can be open about their sexual orientation to their doctors by providing information in the medical settings – for example by prominently displayed equal opportunities posters including sexual orientation, or statements in patient leaflets
  • Using gender-neutral language when talking about patients’ partners
  • Avoiding reinforcing stereotypes that assume sexual health is the primary health need of gay patients – by taking all issues including mental health into consideration

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA’s Head of Science and Ethics said: “Everyone has the right to be treated equally, regardless of their sexual orientation. Doctors and patients should feel safe and confident when they are in hospitals and surgeries”

Guidelines for integrating teaching about homosexuality into the medical school curriculum are also included within the report. Ensuring medical students are taught how to act in a non-judgemental way with gay colleagues and patients is important to combat discrimination in the workplace and change attitudes and behaviour within the profession as a whole.

Dr Sam Everington, Co-chair of the BMA’s Equal Opportunities Committee and Deputy Chairman of the BMA said: “Future doctors have a responsibility to their colleagues and patients. Sexual orientation should be included in the medical school curriculum and will help create a health service environment where all doctors can achieve their full potential and all patients be treated with the respect they deserve.”

The report is part of the BMA’s campaign on diversity which recommends a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination.

Ends

Notes to Editors

* The BMA’s press office has a list of some doctors willing to speak to the media about sexual orientation discrimination.
    ** Equality Employment (Sexual Orientation) Regulations - enacted December 2003. The regulations apply across Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Separate but similar regulations have been introduced in Northern Ireland (The Employment Equality [Sexual Orientation] Regulations [Northern Ireland] 2003)

    The full report ‘Sexual Orientation in the Workplace’ is available here:

    http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/Sexualorientation
    © British Medical Association 2009