According to the National LGBT Cancer Network, LGBT people experience greater difficulties in obtaining quality healthcare. As a start, fewer lesbians and gay men have adequate health insurance and uninsured rates are even higher among transgender people. Very few LGBT people are able to obtain health insurance under their partner's health plan.

Once inside a doctor's office, LGBT patients are often confronted with intake forms that do not reflect the reality of their lives or gender identity, and providers who lack knowledge about LGBT health risks and issues. Same sex partners need to be included in health care decisions but are not always invited or permitted in the room. Finally, most oncologists and social workers remain unaware of the psychosocial impact of cancer on LGBT families and sexuality.

Provider bias against homosexuality is well documented and over half of all medical schools provide no training at all on LGBT health issues. Those that do offer some instruction on this population provide an average of only two and a half hours of education during the four-year program.

The National LGBT Cancer Network offers training and consultation on ways to make the clinical environment and interviewing methods more welcoming to lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people. 

Details Here

Last updated on April 10, 2010 by getavision admin