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Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association; Ronald M. Davis, MD; Myron Genel, MD; John P. Howe III; Mitchell S. Karlan, MD; William R. Kennedy, MD; Patricia Joy Numann, MD; Joseph A. Riggs, MD; W. Douglas Skelton, MD; Priscilla J. Slanetz, MD; Monique A. Spillman; Michael Williams, MD; Donald C. Young, MD; James R. Allen, MD, MPH; Robert C. Rinaldi, PhD; Mary C. Ayesse, DrPH, MSW; Joseph F. O'Neill, MD, MS, MPH

JAMA. 1996;275(17):1354-1359.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

IN 1981 the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association (AMA) adopted a report from the Council on Scientific Affairs entitled Health Care Needs of the Homosexual Population. A substantial number of studies involving gay men and lesbians have subsequently appeared in the medical literature that provide a better understanding of health issues related to sexual orientation and behavior. For this reason, the original recommendations were reviewed, including that of reversal of sexual orientation in selected cases.¹

DEFINITION AND DEMOGRAPHICS

In this report, sexual orientation refers to an individual's self-perception as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual. Sexual behavior may or may not correlate with sexual orientation. Furthermore, an individual's sexual behavior and orientation may vary over time.

The scientific literature indicates that homosexual feelings are more frequent than homosexual behavior and that same-sex behavior is more frequent than lasting homosexual identification.^2-11 According to researchers from RAND,^10(p145) . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
Lansing, Mich; New Haven, Conn; (Vice Chair), San Antonio, Tex; Beverly Hills, Calif; Minneapolis, Minn; Syracuse, NY; Haddon Heights, NJ; (Chair), Macon, Ga; Boston, Mass; Dallas, Tex; Baltimore, Md; Iowa City, Iowa; Scientist, AMA Department of STD & HIV (Staff Author); Chase Brexton Clinic, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore; Dr O'Neill is now with the AIDS Program Office, US Public Health Service, Rockville, Md, and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

From the Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association, Chicago, Ill.

Footnotes
This report is a condensed and edited version of the 1994 Interim House of Delegates Meeting Report 8 of the Council on Scientific Affairs. The recommendations were adopted, and the remainder of the report was filed.

The complete original 1994 version of this report can be obtained by writing to the Group on Science, Technology, and Public Health, American Medical Association, 515 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610 (James R. Allen, MD, MPH, Secretary, Council on Scientific Affairs).

This report is not intended to be construed or to serve as a standard of medical care. Standards of medical care are determined on the basis of all the facts and circumstances involved in an individual case and are subject to change as scientific knowledge and technology advance and patterns of practice evolve. This report reflects the scientific knowledge as of January 1996.

Reprints: James R. Allen, MD, MPH, Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association, 515 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610.

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