Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT)individuals and patient rights

Aim: In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights it is determined that every invidual is entitled to medical care and that he/she has the right to provide health and wellfare for his/her family and himself/herself. In our country, there are no specific legislations prohibiting discrimination in healthcare based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In article 5 of the Patient Rights Directives it is determined that the patient's race, language, religion or creed, sex, political opinion, philosophical belief and other economic and social status differences should not be considered while giving health care. Scientific publications related to violation of rights against LGBT inviduals, based on their sexual orientation or gender identity and knowledge and attitudes of health workers about this patient group, do exist in our country and worldwide. This study aims to investigate violation of patient rights and discriminations that LGBT inviduals experienced based on their sexual orientation or gender identity and the violations of patient rights that are not related to sexual orientation or gender identity in health care services. Furthermore, it aims to raise awareness for all individuals, primarily for healthcare personnel about this issue within the framework of such data, to point out that the cases of discrimination in healthcare services are not occasional ones and to provide data that will lead to develop an action and policy campaign against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Method: This research is planned as across sectional survey. The questionnaire, which has 42 questions is prepared by compiling the Patient Rights Directives and the questionnaire used in "Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination Basic Monitoring Report in Turkey". It applied by hand to LGBT individuals contacted through Black Pink Triangle Association in Izmir. The obtained data is analyzed by the SPSS 18.0 software. Results: In this study 63 LGBT individuals was reached. As the personal characteristics of the inviduals are scanned, 69,8 % (44) of the participants are homosexual, 17,5% (11) are bisexual while 12,7 % (8) are transsexual. The average age is 24,93 ±6,09. As a result of our study, it is determined that transgender are exposed to negative discrimination in health care services more statistically significant than the bisexual and gay individuals (p=0,042) and that transgender individuals receive health care in inappropriate conditions more statistically significant than the bisexual and gay individuals (p=0,037). Knowledge of the participants about the patients' rights is found statically significantly higher in participants who read the Patient Rights Directives than the participants, who didn't read the Patient Rights Directives (p=0,03). 14 participants reported that they experienced discrimination based on sexual orientation/gender identity in health care services. 11 (78,56%) of them reported the perpetrator of the discrimination as a doctor, 4 (28,57%) of them reported the perpetrator as nurses. Discussion and Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that in contrast to the general population, patients who are LGBT individuals are more exposed to rights violation in health care services and transgender individuals receive health care in inappropriate conditions. We think it is a must that the awareness for this issue should be raised in all inviduals, primarly in healthcare personnel. Spesific education programmes should be planned, the subjects such as "specific health needs of LGBT inviduals" and "modalities in LGBT patient management" should be added to the curriculums of med schools. And an action and policy campaign against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity should be developed in all healthcare sections. Key Words: LGBT, transgender, homosexual, patient rights, discrimination