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EDITORIALS: Peggy J Kleinplatz Sexuality and older people BMJ 2008; 337: a239 [Full text]

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Yet another question to ask patients!

Paul Corwin   (31 July 2008)

Yet another question to ask patients! 31 July 2008
Paul Corwin, locum general practitioner New Zealand Send response to journal: Re: Yet another question to ask patients!	Peggy Kleinplatz concludes her editorial on sexuality and older people by telling doctors to ask "every patient, regardless of age" if they have "any sexual concerns." Great, I have already been told to ask patients about their drinking, gambling, depression or other mental health problems, spousal violence etc etc. Now I should also ask if they have any sexual concerns. I actually spend most of my consultations dealing with problems patients bring to me. Often somatic symptoms require enquiry regarding psychological issues which I consider part of my remit. At that stage I am usually running late and do NOT have time for fishing expeditions for further problems. Let's have a moratorium on telling doctors to ask about ever increasing numbers of problems and educate patients to raise their own concerns, be they physical,sexual, social or psychological with their doctor. We can then use our time more efficiently in dealing with the patient and their problems. Paul Corwin Competing interests: None declared