A Neurological Surgery Care Protocol for the LGBTQIA+ Community

TL;DR

This paper proposes a care protocol for neurological surgery that addresses the unique needs and challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community.

Contribution

The novel contribution is a proposed care protocol tailored to improve neurosurgical care for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Findings

LGBTQIA+ individuals face unique health needs and barriers in healthcare, including neurosurgery.

Current protocols lack inclusivity and sensitivity, leading to discrimination and poor clinical outcomes.

Creating a respectful and safe care environment can improve treatment and recovery for LGBTQIA+ patients.

Abstract

This research aims to propose a neurological surgery care protocol for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, or asexual (LGBTQIA+) community. In recent years, people belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community have started to come out and express their identity due to growing awareness and various factors like the implementation of legal protections and rights in several countries; it is well documented in the literature that this community faces unique health needs as well as barriers and inequalities in healthcare. The lack of tailored training for medical specialists affects the level of quality and access to medical care for these individuals, and neurosurgical care is no exception.

This literature review included studies in scientific journals and articles discussing problems, best practices, and gaps in the existing neurological surgical care protocols for LGBTQIA+ people. Accordingly, it highlights shared challenges such as healthcare-related difficulties, communication barriers, discrimination, and stigmatization. The primary aim is to create a safe and respectful care environment that ensures fair medical treatment to all patients regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The review sheds light on the need for inclusive and sensitive neurosurgical care to improve clinical outcomes and the experience of patients belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community, thereby ensuring an environment of dignified treatment and satisfactory recovery from neurosurgical events.

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