BMJ  2004;328 (21 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7437.0-a

...and health professionals had doubts about efficacy and ethics

Treatments to make homosexuals into heterosexuals did not follow a national protocol or ethical guidelines, and in the early 1970s many health professionals were uneasy with common treatments for homosexuality. King and colleagues (p 429), interviewing 30 health professionals who administered treatment for homosexuality during the 1970s, found that many were concerned about the treatments available at the time. Most provided behavioural therapy and covert sensitisation; several had pure science backgrounds; and often they were inexperienced young clinicians. Social and moral attitudes can determine pathological behaviour, say the authors; we should beware of assumptions that could lead to the infringement of human rights.

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Relevant Article

Treatments of homosexuality in Britain since the 1950s—an oral history: the experience of professionals

Michael King, Glenn Smith, and Annie Bartlett
BMJ 2004 328: 429. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]