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from Ethical Issues
American Academy Of Physician Assistants Adopts
Compromise Resolution On Reorientation Therapy
Dr. Robert Spitzer observed: "Health care providers should not coerce patients into reorientation but neither should they discourage patients from bringing their sexuality into accord with their religious convictions."
June 1, 2007 - The House of Delegates of the American Academy of Physician Assistants passed a resolution against reorientation therapies on May 28 that was more conservative than the original proposal.
The original resolution stated: "The American Academy of Physician Assistants opposes the practice of treatments intended to alter sexual orientation." The resolution that passed stated that the group opposed therapies based on the premise that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder that should be cured.
John Fields, Chairman of the Task Force on Ethics and Policy of the Fellowship of Christian Physician Assistants observed: "We agree that homosexuality per se should not be considered a mental disorder and we certainly oppose imposition of opinions on to patients which is essentially what [the] new resolution states. However, we pressed for a recognition of religious diversity as well but our substitute resolution was not considered."
Dr. Robert Spitzer noted: "Health care providers should not coerce patients into reorientation but neither should they discourage patients from bringing their sexuality into accord with their religious convictions. Even though I am not religious, I do believe it to be hubris for health care professionals to use our position to promote one set of beliefs over another."
Additional Reading: Physician Assistant Group Being Pressured To Condemn Reparative Therapy;
Spitzer Study Published: Evidence Found for Effectiveness of Reorientation Therapy;
"Homosexuality Is Not Hardwired," Concludes Dr. Francis S. Collins, Head Of The Human Genome Project.
Updated: 28 February 2008
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