Labour MP Sandra Osborne has called on The Government to investigate NHS links with gay conversion therapists and ban conversion therapy for under 18s.
Sandra Osborne's motion which has already gained the support of MPs from five different parties, asserts being lesbian, gay or bisexual is not a disease or illness and that therapy which attempts to cure or change a person's sexual orientation is both ineffective and potentially extremely harmful.
Sandra said
"At 2009 survey of 1,300 British psychiatrists, therapists and psychoanalysts revealed over 200 had attempted to change at least one patient's sexuality (BMC Psychiatry, 9:11, 26 March 2009); and an undercover investigation in 2010 (The Independent, 1 February 2010) found one psychotherapist claimed most of her clients were forwarded to her from her local GP. In reply to a question from my colleague Dianne Johnson, Lib Dem Health Minister Norman Lamb said, “The Department of Health does not condone the concept of therapists offering ‘cures’ for homosexuality. There is no evidence that this sort of treatment is beneficial and indeed it may well cause significant harm, to some patients”.
But Conservative Health Minister Daniel Poulter also told Ms Johnson that the government has “no plans” to introduce statutory regulation for psychotherapists. This is in spite of the condemnation of this practice by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
I am deeply concerned that nothing currently prevents conversion therapists from freely operating in Britain or practising in the psychotherapy sector. That is why I am calling on the Government to investigate any NHS links with conversion therapists to ensure that NHS medical professionals cannot inflict this cruel treatment on their patients. In particular the Government should take steps to ban conversion therapy for under-18s."
Ends
Sandra Osborne's motion which has already gained the support of MPs from five different parties, asserts being lesbian, gay or bisexual is not a disease or illness and that therapy which attempts to cure or change a person's sexual orientation is both ineffective and potentially extremely harmful.
Sandra said
"At 2009 survey of 1,300 British psychiatrists, therapists and psychoanalysts revealed over 200 had attempted to change at least one patient's sexuality (BMC Psychiatry, 9:11, 26 March 2009); and an undercover investigation in 2010 (The Independent, 1 February 2010) found one psychotherapist claimed most of her clients were forwarded to her from her local GP. In reply to a question from my colleague Dianne Johnson, Lib Dem Health Minister Norman Lamb said, “The Department of Health does not condone the concept of therapists offering ‘cures’ for homosexuality. There is no evidence that this sort of treatment is beneficial and indeed it may well cause significant harm, to some patients”.
But Conservative Health Minister Daniel Poulter also told Ms Johnson that the government has “no plans” to introduce statutory regulation for psychotherapists. This is in spite of the condemnation of this practice by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
I am deeply concerned that nothing currently prevents conversion therapists from freely operating in Britain or practising in the psychotherapy sector. That is why I am calling on the Government to investigate any NHS links with conversion therapists to ensure that NHS medical professionals cannot inflict this cruel treatment on their patients. In particular the Government should take steps to ban conversion therapy for under-18s."
Ends