Fridae

On October 31, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) issued a much needed position statement about how prejudice can negatively impact the health of gays and lesbians.

"There is still unacceptable injustice, prejudice, inequalities under the law, and serious health consequences as a result of homophobia," Federal AMA president Dr. Kerryn Phelps said at the Amnesty International Global Human Rights Conference.

Discrimination makes gays and lesbians less likely to seek medical care, according to Phelps. "Gay men and lesbians are less likely to undertake health screening of a variety of different sorts, particularly leading to a higher incidence of cancer and heart disease," she said. "There is also a higher incidence of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, which is not caused by homosexuality but caused by homophobia."

As a result lesbians and gays may unwittingly pass sexually transmitted diseases back and forth, and may not catch certain ailments until the late stages. Phelps also noted that when denied access to in vitro fertilization programs, lesbians may turn to sperm donors who have not been screened for disease.

Phelps also stressed that doctors need to be aware of the health needs of transsexual patient. "Male-to-female transsexuals who do not have their prostate removed after sex reassignment surgery are still at risk of prostate cancer," she said. "Female-to-male transsexuals can still be at risk of breast cancer in spite of breast reduction surgery, as well as risk of ovarian cancer if ovaries are not removed."

Offering an open and accepting environment for LGBT patients may also influence society. "The views of medical practitioners in society carry much authority," she said at the conference. "Doctors therefore have a significant role to play in promoting healthy attitudes to sexual and gender diversity."

It's not just about the patients, the medical community needs to support the partners and families of lesbians and gays, according to the AMA. "The AMA believes that acknowledgment of same-sex partners is important in medical decision making and that these partners should be afforded the same," Phelps said.