Ethical Issues in Treating LGBT Patients

Presenter: Jack Drescher, MD Tuesday, June 15, 2021 11:30 am to 1 pm, CST

Virtual Zoom Event

Jack Drescher, MD, is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in private practice in New York City. Dr. Drescher is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Past President of the Group for Advancement of Psychiatry and a Past President of APA’s New York County Psychiatric Society.

Dr. Drescher is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons and Faculty Member, Columbia Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research. He is Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry, and Clinical Supervisor and Adjunct Professor at New York University’s Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. He is a Training and Supervising Analyst at the William Alanson White Institute.

Dr. Drescher served on APA’s DSM-5 Workgroup on Sexual and Disorders. He serves as a member of the World Health Organization’s Working Group on the Classification of Sexual Disorders and Sexual Health addressing sex and gender diagnoses in WHO's forthcoming (2018) revisions of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). He also served on the Honorary Scientific Committee revising the 2nd edition of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM-2) scheduled for 2017 release.

Dr. Drescher’s professional honors include the Albert M. Biele Visiting Professor in Psychiatry, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University (2016), Sheppard-Pratt’s Harry Stack Sullivan Award Lecturer (2013), an APA Special Presidential Commendation (2009), an APA Distinguished Psychiatrist Lecturer (2009), APA’s Irma Bland Award for Excellence in Teaching Residents (2006), and the James Paulsen Service Award from the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists (2004).

Dr. Drescher is board certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and certified as a Fellow in Adult Psychoanalysis by the American Board of Psychoanalysis. Dr. Drescher is Author of Psychoanalytic Therapy and the Gay Man (Routledge) and Emeritus Editor of the Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health. He has edited and co- edited more than a score of books dealing with gender, sexuality and the health and mental health of LGBT communities. He has authored and co-authored numerous professional articles and book chapters as well. His publications have been translated into Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Finnish and German.

Dr. Drescher frequently speaks to both professional and lay audiences. In addition to speaking invitations at Grand Rounds throughout the New York metropolitan area and elsewhere, he has presented at meetings of the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychoanalytic Association, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the World Psychiatric Association. He is a frequent international lecturer and has been invited to speak in Argentina, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Dr. Drescher has served as an expert witness in legal cases dealing with LGBT rights in California, New Jersey and New York. He is presently a Visiting Scholar of the Liberty Education Forum and serves on the Medical Advisory Board of Faith in America.

Dr. Drescher is an expert media spokesperson on issues related to gender and sexuality. He has appeared on ABC: World News Tonight, Good Morning America, 20/20, and Nightline; CBS: Sunday Morning; PBS: In The Life; CTV: AM Canada; CNN: Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper 360, Paula Zahn; Fox: The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News; MSNBC: The Most; NPR: On Point, Here and Now, To the Point. BBC: Radio 4.

Dr. Drescher’s expert views have also been sought and quoted by The Associated Press, Reuters, Time, Newsweek, People, Esquire, The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald, and numerous local media outlets, including the New York Daily News, New York Newsday, and The Village Voice. He is an occasional contributor to The Huffington Post, FoxNews.com and PsychologyToday.com.

Learning Purpose/Goal The American Psychiatric Association’s Principles of Medical Ethics emphasize competence, respect and up-to-date knowledge as a basis for appropriate professional behavior toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) patients. This presentation first reviews historical psychiatric attitudes towards LGBT patients that could be construed, at best, as patronizing and, at worst, overtly hostile. In modern clinical practice, as opposed to trying to “cure” homosexuality or “transsexualism,” LGBT patients are helped to live their lives according to their own natures and desires. This presentation outlines some common clinical questions raised by LGBT patients—what is known and not known about the origins of homosexuality and transgender expression, conversion efforts (SOCE), therapist self-disclosure, how therapists should address LGBT patients, and controversies surrounding treatment of transgender children—as well as ethical issues raised in these clinical encounters.

Learning Objectives At the conclusion of this live presentation, participants should be able to: • be cognizant of issues specific to the treatment of LGBT patients • be prepared to answer the kind of questions LGBT patients frequently ask of clinicians; • be cognizant of important ethical principles salient to the treatment of LGBT patients;

Target Audience Physicians, psychologists, registered nurses, social workers, licensed professional counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, and addictions professionals (all experience levels)

Continuing Education Credit Successful completion of this activity requires 100% attendance of the activity.

One (1.5) credit/ contact/clock hours have been designated by The Menninger Clinic for the following disciplines:

Physicians: The Menninger Clinic is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Menninger Clinic designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Psychologists: The Menninger Clinic is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Menninger Clinic maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Registered Nurses: The Menninger Clinic is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by Louisiana State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. LSNA Provider No. 4112165

Social Workers: The Menninger Clinic, Provider #4586, is approved by the Texas State Board of Social Worker examiners to offer continuing education for Social Workers. This activity is offered for 1.5 continuing education contact hours for social workers. We adhere to the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners Continuing Education Guidelines. Licensed Professional Counselors: The Menninger Clinic has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5139. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Menninger Clinic is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists: This activity is offered for 1.5 continuing education hours for marriage and family therapists. We adhere to the Texas State Board of Marriage and Family Therapists continuing education guidelines.

Addiction Professionals: Menninger is approved by the TCBAP Standards Committee, Provider No. 1741-06, one and one half (1.5) hours general. Expires 7/2021. Complaints about provider or workshop content may be directed to the TCBAP Standards Committee, 401 Ranch Road 620 S., Suite 310, Austin, Texas 78734, fax number 888-506-8123.

Additional Information

If you have any specific ADA needs, registration questions or concerns, or need to cancel, please contact Michelle A. Jennings, coordinator of Education and Training, at [email protected]. We look forward to learning together!