Health Care Disparities that Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals struggle with in the 21st Century
Journal Title
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Issue Date
2014-04-26
Authors
Hynson, Denise
Publisher
Keywords
Abstract
Abstract
Today the standard of health care is to address the entire person. This is not the case for individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, or transgender (LGBT). “The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report concludes that ‘LGBT individuals have reported experiencing refusal of treatment by health care staff, verbal abuse, and disrespectful behavior, as well as many other forms of failure to provide adequate care’” (Rounds, R.E., McGrath, B. B., Walsh, E. p. 99). The LGBT population requires a unique standard of care however, their sexuality is often a barrier to receiving basic health care. It is important that healthcare providers collaborate with families, educate themselves and their staff to assure that a standard level of treatment is received by all patients that identify as LGBT. This paper will address health disparities identified by LGBT individuals, and health care professionals in addition to recommendations on how to decrease health care disparities.