Doctors always take the Hippocratic Oath, but that doesn’t stop some of them from being hypocrites.

A recent survey in Britain indicated that 17% of UK’s mental professionals have helped a patient attempt to overcome same-sex desire. That’s a startlingly high number, especially since a number of organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association, have come out against so-called gay "cures," also known as reparative therapy. The APA asks all "ethical practitioners to refrain from attempts to change individuals’ sexual orientation."

On the flip side, however, doctors are also meant to help out patients in distress, which explains why so many admit to participating in controversial treatments. And the doctors in question must know they’re acting questionably, because only 4% in the survey said they would encourage reparative therapy, according to the BBC. Not only is such therapy potentially harmful to one’s mental and emotional state, but it can also increase social stigma around homosexuality. The American Psychological Association notes:

To date, there has been no scientifically adequate research to show that therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation (sometimes called reparative or conversion therapy) is safe or effective. Furthermore, it seems likely that the promotion of change therapies reinforces stereotypes and contributes to a negative climate for lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons.

So, what’s a good doctor to do: bow to a patient’s will or work around it? And what of the debate? A number of medical professionals insist reparative therapy does more harm than good, but others insist it can affect slight change. If a patient wants to change their sexuality, isn’t that their right?