Gay and lesbian doctors find a voice

MicraBoy

Just posted this in LGB forum but wanted to draw attention to it here.

LGB forum

Chuchoter

How bad is it to be a gay/lesbian doctor? Like are we talking never getting a job/promotion? Because I'm gay and I want to do medicine but the fact that they're saying medicine is one of the last professions where gay people are just non-existent is very worrying.

PhysiologyRocks

crayolastereo wrote: »

How bad is it to be a gay/lesbian doctor? Like are we talking never getting a job/promotion? Because I'm gay and I want to do medicine but the fact that they're saying medicine is one of the last professions where gay people are just non-existent is very worrying.

I know a few gay med students and know of one or two gay doctors who did just fine.

Second-hand info, but hope it helps anyway!

sam34

in my experience, there are very few openly gay doctors around.

its crap for them.

there's only one person out of my class that has come out - statistically there must be more gay people in teh class, and he didnt come out until he was well established in his career path

Chuchoter

But what would happen to them if they came out?

Jessibelle

And why should it cause any issues? It's not like you're introduced as Dr ABC, an expert in cardiology and gay, or DR XYZ, Orthopedics and straight, or is it still the misperception of HIV and the ilk being a 'gay' disease?

anotherlostie

Loads of gay pharmacists! Have to agree about the doctors - in my experience, it's being out in public that's the issue as opposed to being in the closet. And to be honest, what business is it of mine whether the person treating me is gay, straight or something else?

However from their personal perspective, I can see doctors that aren't out suffer when it comes to rosters etc. If they aren't out, then they are single, and therefore fair game to work call on all the holiday weekends when those with families look for the time off!

RobFowl

I know a few openly Gay doctors but they are all GP's.
They seemed to have no problem with career progression.
I think it's quite difficult in a hospital environment though.

Nean

ah bollocks, med student here, didnt realise it was so bad for gay doctors, another reason to keep me in the closet....**** this

Chuchoter

I mean like I have no intention to wear a rainbow labcoat, telling patients orwhatever, but I don't want to have to be always second guessing myself saying they're or he instead of she. I mean if you work with the same people day in day out for such long hours you couldn't possibly keep it a secret. Why is medicine so close-minded? You'd think with them all being so highly educated they'd have more sense.

tallaght01

I have worked with several openly game (and in some cases very very camp) doctors in hospital medicine, and none have had any difficulties.

Not saying there isn't a problem, but my experience is that medics are no more homophobic than the rest of the population.

docbroc

I know a few gay doctors alright but not any that would bring their partner to a work meeting or the like. To be honest I think you will have enough problems with your personal life falling apart as you slave away in hospitals coming home (if your allowed) exhausted and disgruntled, to worry too much about prejudice. My gay colleges are just as stuck in go nowhere careers as I am - that's equality Irish style.

sam34

tallaght01 wrote: »

I have worked with several openly game (and in some cases very very camp) doctors in hospital medicine, and none have had any difficulties.

Not saying there isn't a problem, but my experience is that medics are no more homophobic than the rest of the population.

is that in good ole catholic ireland or elsewhere? i'd imagine it wouldnt be as much of an issue in england or oz

Breezer

sam34 wrote: »

is that in good ole catholic ireland or elsewhere? i'd imagine it wouldnt be as much of an issue in england or oz

That was my question too...

MicraBoy wrote:

Just posted this in LGB forum

I replied over there. To summarise my points:

1) The law allows for religious-run hospitals to dismiss (or not hire) staff who undermine the religious ethos. Given the nomadic lifestyle of a junior doctor, you're more than likely going to come up against a board member with "strong views" at some point. Whether they exercise them or not is another matter, but the law is on their side if they choose to.

2) Consultants, as purveyors of references good and bad, have an insane amount of power over NCHDs job prospects in this country. IMO if your consultant has an attitude problem you don't want to give them any extra ammunition to use against you.

drkpower

Breezer wrote: »

Consultants, as purveyors of references good and bad, have an insane amount of power over NCHDs job prospects in this country. IMO if your consultant has an attitude problem you don't want to give them any extra ammunition to use against you.

This, I think, is the key point here. Medicine as a profession (or doctors as professionals) is not especially 'homophobic'; in fact I would say it is more liberal than most professions. But the relatively small numbers at the top of each subdivision (surgery/respiratory medicine etc), and more importantly, the extent to which they are a frequently interacting 'club', means that any particular issue that makes someone stand out is likely to be known to them all. And given the way in which senior appointments are handed out, it may only take one or two people in important positions with a prejudice, to result in someone being overlooked on the basis of their sexuality (or on the basis of any other 'undesirable' personal charachteristic).

MicraBoy

hmmm this thread is depressing me! I knew about the ethos thing, but I guess I had put to the side the idea of prejudice of senior colleagues having a major impact on my career.