An evidence-based context to address health care for gay and lesbian patients

There is extensive, credible evidence in the medical literature, and overwhelming consensus among professional medical organizations, that disparities in health care provided to gay and lesbian patients and their families must be addressed and changed. As physicians, we continue to assess the latest medical evidence in order to provide the highest quality health care to all our patients. We will tell the truth when attempts to discriminate, whether legislative or societal, harm our patients or hamper our ability to care for them. Examples from Michigan, Ohio, and Nebraska, where constitutional amendments banning same sex civil unions or marriage have passed, are noteworthy, with increasing legal challenges to domestic partnerships. These discriminatory laws and amendments have jeopardized health care decision-making, hospital visitation rights, health insurance, and legal protections for gay as well as heterosexual couples. In Wisconsin, we can and must do better than that as we strive to improve the health of all of our citizens.