From Queerty:
When you go to the doctor, you want him or her to know everything about you that might affect your health. That’s why a new study says that medical records should include the patient’s sexual orientation.
Without that information, the study says, medical groups will not be
able to recognize disparities in care based on sexual orientation and
take the necessary steps to correct them.
The authors of the study, published in the journal LGBT Health,
note that data shows that lesbians are less likely to get screened for
cervical cancer and that there is a higher incidence of mental health
issues related to stress among LGBT patients. But without routine
collection of data about sexual orientation, addressing those issues and
identifying others will remain a problem.
“Given the outward invisibility of LGBT people and their history of
invisibility in the health-care system, it is critical for clinicians to
address and screen for health conditions disproportionately affecting
LGBT people and have frank discussions with patients about sexual
identity and behavior and gender identity,” the authors write. “However,
most clinicians don’t ask questions about these topics; many are
uncomfortable discussing sex with patients. Gathering data on sexual and
gender identity in EHR [electronic health records] will improve our
understanding of LGBT disparities and help improve clinicians’
conversations with patients about LGBT issues.”
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