Human Sexuality

I have been teaching the course on human sexuality at two medical schools for the past seven years. In my opinion, Dr. Neil Schram is only partly correct in his analysis as to the reason that primary care physicians do not inquire into the sexual behavior of their patients (“Physicians’ Bias Thwarts AIDS Prevention,” Op-Ed Page, Sept. 5).

It is without question that only rarely do physicians perform adequate sexual histories. However, his statement that there is a “physician prejudice against homosexual/bisexual men and an aversion to AIDS” is not the basic reason. My observation with both medical students and doctors is that the entire subject of sexuality, be it homosexuality or heterosexuality, is too threatening for most people in my profession to deal with. One must be comfortable with one’s own sexuality in order to discuss the subject with others, and this simply doesn’t occur in the medical field.

An essay could be written on the causes, but the practical solution to this dilemma is sex education beginning at a very early age in the public schools with a detailed course in human sexuality being a pre-med requirement.

RONALD B. FERRIS, M.D.

La Mirada