U.S. Medical Schools Boost LGBTQ Training

[yukonnights]

There is in article today in the Associated Press reporting on the move to provide more training to future medical professionals regarding LGBTQ patients needs. It's actually very interesting to read some accounts of what LGBTQ patients encounter on a visit for health care. I want to put this up here primarily as an encouraging trend toward better LGBTQ acceptance. I think when the more highly educated members of society accept gender diversity like this, it provides another nudge forward for the rest of society. In other words; If my smart doctor believes, then maybe I should too.

To me, the irony is; Many past and current "less educated societies" accept gender diversity as a normal part of life. Anyway, hope this brings a bit of sunshine into someone's day.

Link -> U.S. medical schools boost LGBTQ students, doctor training

 

[puppett]

unfortunately hate is not diminished by education.

as long as our societal institutions (religion mostly) continue to denigrate the differences, those differences in the wrong hands lead to hate as an escape goat.
just about identity all identity politics is this way not just sexual.

 

[yukonnights]

unfortunately hate is not diminished by education.

as long as our societal institutions (religion mostly) continue to denigrate the differences, those differences in the wrong hands lead to hate as an escape goat.
just about identity all identity politics is this way not just sexual.

I agree with you in part. I do think education has an impact/change on hate — provided the education is structured to do that. This is an element of the training of medical professionals in general. Adding the LGBTQ studies addressing both health and emotional/psychological health issues will have an impact on most future healthcare providers. For example; I doubt the number of racist doctors is the same today as it was 100 years ago. Diversity, in many ways, is becoming more of a norm in societies. LGBTQ acceptance is still in the earlier stages of that … but getting better as the years pass.

One thing about higher education; It often shines a new light on a dogma taught to some who were raised in a situation where a warped view was taught. That's the beauty and power of fact/science based education.

Granted, there will always be; bigots, racists, chauvinists, sexists, homophobes, and religious fanatics. And while not all highly educated people are immune from falling into such, my experience is prejudice and the resulting hate is diminished.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Not just about "don't be an asshole to LGBTQ patients". There are plenty of doctors out there who have the best of intentions but don't know enough about health care needs for LGBTQ folk.

 

[yukonnights]

Not just about "don't be an asshole to LGBTQ patients". There are plenty of doctors out there who have the best of intentions but don't know enough about health care needs for LGBTQ folk.

This was a big part the of move to require more LGBTQ health issues coursework. It was sad to read about some people's experiences with doc's who were unfamiliar/untrained. Sometimes I know that I assume that all doctors are properly trained and skilled — it's not true, of course. Pays to check them out, in some cases even interrogate them, before going under their care.

 

[stickygirl]

From what I've learned from older generations, doctors have moved from being the local source of medical know-how to gatekeepers for more specialist medical expertise. If local doctors used to brush away the worried mother of a transgender kid with a dismissive "he'll grow out of it" followed up by a sympathetic "he had such promise, I'm so sorry for your loss" then things have already changed and continue to do so.

Knowledge and information have always been jealously guarded treasures but thanks to Google, the local doctor has become a librarian. We need to make sure that the keys to the restricted section are not locked away by either religious or cultural bigotry.

Doctors are answerable for their actions in just the same way as a plumber or car mechanic. Giving them the proper training not only helps them to help us, it will probably reduce the number of legal cases against them Win win.