Such conclusions may attest for the need of special mammography guidelines for lesbians. Male homosexual patients also seem to have special health needs. Many doctors, however, find the issue of sexuality a sensitive area. According to statistics, treating LGBT patients causes some medical professionals to feel uncomfortable. Moreover, even when homosexual patients do not consider blatant discrimination to be a problem, patients may still hesitate to reveal their sexuality in fear of potential discrimination.
Some homosexual patients choose to seek treatment exclusively from homosexual physicians.
Not only does this practice eliminate the possibility of discrimination, some argue it provides a practitioner who better understands their patients' health needs and therefore administers better care. Not all agree, however. Ms. Schaffer and Ms. Custer both believe that it is unnecessary for the doctor to be gay to provide proper care. Dr. Harmohinder Singh, a pulmonologist from Southern California who sees many gay patients, agreed. You may not understand everything, but you don't have to be a woman to take care of a woman patient.