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Firstly, These research, {however|nevertheless|nonetheless|even so|on the other because the writer pointed out, gay and lesbian medical doctors within the armed solutions are liable to dismissal for no other cause than their sexuality. The updated product information and facts for the levonorgestrel intrauterine device will permit a duration of use of 5 years and state that the device has a pregnancy price of significantly less than 1 per one hundred woman years. Clinicians and customers might be reassured that this process of contraception is effective when left in utero for five years.M Harrison-Woolrych Senior medical assessor J M Raine Group manager Medicines Manage Agency, London SW8 5NQ1 Mansour D, Guillebaud J. Information support extended use of levonorgestrel intrauterine systems. BMJ 1998;316:l671. (30 Might.) 2 Sivin I, El Mahgoub S, McCarthy T, Mishell DR Jr, Shoupe D, Alvarez F, et al. Long term contraception together with the levonorgestrel 20 mcg/day (LNg20) along with the Copper T 380 Ag intrauterine devices: a five year randomised study. Contraception 1990;42:361-78. 3 Sivin I, Stern J, Coutinho E, Mattos C, El Mahgoub S, Diaz S, et al. Prolonged intrauterine contraception: a seven year randomised study of your levonorgestrel 20 mcg/day (LNg20) and the Copper T 380 Ag IUDs. Contraception 1991;44:473-80.Discrimination against gay and lesbian physicians goes against GMC's guidanceEditor--As co-chairs on the Gay and Lesbian Association of Physicians and Dentists (GLADD) we were concerned about an anonymous letter published in Profession Concentrate quite a few months ago.1 It was by a gay doctor within a education post and raises quite a few essential difficulties. Firstly, because the writer pointed out, gay and lesbian doctors inside the armed solutions are liable to dismissal for no other explanation than their sexuality. This happened to among our members in 1997 right after he was "outed" by a tabloid newspaper. Secondly, physicians in the armed solutions are needed to report service personnel whom they know to be homosexual even though this information has been acquired throughout a clinical consultation and in the knowledge that the particular person concerned might be dismissed. In any other context such breach of confidentiality could amount to skilled misconduct. This situation is relevant to all doctors because it erodes the confidence of gay and lesbian sufferers in the profession as a whole and is clearly inimical to good health-related practice. We think that immediate action is required by the government, the armed solutions, and also the Common Healthcare Council. Thirdly, some gay and lesbian physicians in instruction in the NHS are still reluctant to become open about their sexuality for worry of discrimination by colleagues. We are able to provide them some comfort by pointing for the Common Health-related Council's guidance to all doctors, which states: "You need to not discriminate against your colleagues, like medical doctors applying for posts, mainly because of one's views of their way of life, culture, beliefs, race, colour, sex, sexuality or age."2 We recognise, nevertheless, that practice might be extremely different.Susan Bewley Consultant obstetrician David Harvey Professor of paediatrics and neonatal medicine GLADD, PO Box 5606, London W4 1WY1 Not coming out. BMJ 1997;classified suppl:two. (13 December.) 2 Common Medical Council.