OBJECTIVE: To understand the major legal and policy issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) cancer patients. DATA SOURCES: LGBT health policy research. CONCLUSION: Major policy issues include discrimination, lack of cultural competency and clinically appropriate care, insurance coverage, family recognition, and sexual orientation and gender identity data collection. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses play a major role in providing affirming and competent care to LGBT cancer patients. Using correct names and pronouns with transgender patients, and collecting sexual orientation and gender identity data can send an affirming message to LGBT patients, as well as inform decision support and preventive screenings, and improve treatment outcomes.
OBJECTIVE: To understand the major legal and policy issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) cancerpatients. DATA SOURCES: LGBT health policy research. CONCLUSION: Major policy issues include discrimination, lack of cultural competency and clinically appropriate care, insurance coverage, family recognition, and sexual orientation and gender identity data collection. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses play a major role in providing affirming and competent care to LGBT cancerpatients. Using correct names and pronouns with transgender patients, and collecting sexual orientation and gender identity data can send an affirming message to LGBT patients, as well as inform decision support and preventive screenings, and improve treatment outcomes.