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transmitted by anal sex and oral/anal contact should also
be reviewed.
How does your office appear to the sexual minority
patient? Your prospective patient's first contacts with
your practice are your office staff and your forms. Patient
information sheets routinely ask questions that may
seem simple and routine to you, but are really quite
difficult. Prospective transgendered patients must choose
between male and female; S/M practitioners must choose
between listing their spouse or their S/M mistress as their
emergency contact. How will the new doctor respond to
a newly married gay couple? A new patient will judge
your paperwork, before ever finding out how accepting
you are.
Your office staff can be also be the cause of a
misunderstanding. The odd look from your receptionist...
the nurse who does not understand the need for a male
doctor to have a chaperon when examining a female-to-
male transsexual... the medical assistant who shudders
when seeing nipple rings... the bookkeeper who refuses
to explain a charge on the bill to the patient's significant
other... all these can represent genuine obstacles to health
care for the sexual minority patient.
The somewhat unfriendly form or staff can all lead
to a hostile or fearful patient. It is probably a good idea
to read over your patient materials to make sure they are
not inadvertently offensive. A frank discussion with your
office staff, letting them know that you welcome sexual
minority patients into your practice and will not tolerate
any disrespect, can also be useful. Be especially aware
of the staff member who is tolerant of most sexualities,