§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons homosexuality is listed as a sexual disorder and sexual deviancy under the mental illness category in the national health service nationwide computer system categorising patients; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleAll hospital systems in England classify diagnoses in accordance with the current revision—the ninth—of the international classification for diseases, ICD, published by the World Health Organisation, WHO.
Homosexuality was first listed in the ICD in 1948 when the use of the ICD was expanded from a traditional classification of mortality causes to become a morbidity classification as well. The WHO reports that it is practically impossible to establish who proposed the inclusion.
In the current revision, the ninth, of the ICD, in use since 1979, the facility has been retained whereby homosexuality is listed in section 302.0 and defined as:
exclusive or predominant sexual attraction for persons of the same sex with or without a physical relationship".Provision is made to code homosexuality, regardless of whether considered a mental disorder or not, but is now rarely used.
This classification risked misinterpretation and conse-quently scientists, as well as several non-governmental organisations recommended the deletion of homosexuality as a category in the classification. Thus, in the 10th revision of the ICD approved by the World Health Assembly in May 1990 sexual orientation by itself is not regarded as a disorder. This revision will come into force for health services' purposes from April 1994.