Doctors are not particularly well equipped to deal with the various aspects of human sexuality, the new president of the Irish Medical Organisation, Dr Tony Hynes, said in his address.
An apparent lack of sympathy among the medical profession for homosexuals was also addressed by the Artane GP who began his term of office on Saturday night.
"Many among our ranks are still perceived as unsympathetic to their needs. We have been criticised, too, for our seeming lack of enthusiasm in addressing particular areas of social deprivation, such as the travelling community, refugees, drug addicts and others."
Dr Hynes said an understanding of human sexuality in all its manifestations should be an essential part of the undergraduate curriculum for all doctors and the postgraduate curriculum for many.
"Ironically, while it is widely believed that doctors are particularly well equipped to advise on the various aspects of human sexuality the reality is that such expertise in our ranks is the exception rather than the rule."
In discussions with recent graduates and recently-qualified specialists Dr Hynes said he discovered the situation remains the same.
"In truth then a seeming lack of sympathy among our profession towards homosexuals is more likely to reflect the defensiveness and insecurity of a profession confronted with an unfamiliar challenge rather than bias or prejudice."
Dr Hynes said there were difficulties in catering satisfactorily for the needs of disadvantaged groups in society, fears of personal security, and liability to claims of professional misconduct.
"The IMO is acutely conscious of the needs of these groups and is anxious and willing to play a part in addressing them. We are not prepared, however, to embrace cosmetic and unproven strategies simply to be seen to be doing the `right thing'."
Many of these issues demanded carefully thought-out strategies. The reluctance of some doctors to treat certain categories of patients had been increasingly reported in the media, he said, in a way that suggested there had been some departure from the Hippocratic tradition.
"I am not aware of a single instance where necessary or appropriate care was denied to any patient on the basis of prejudice or a fear for doctors' personal security.
"The Hippocratic tradition is, I believe, alive and well."