Posted on 08/01/2016 9:02:22 AM PDT by PROCON
Two-thirds of Americans are okay with doctors discussing guns, according to a new survey published by The Annals of Internal Medicine.
The online survey asked Americans whether it’s appropriate for healthcare professionals to talk to their patients about guns. Sixty-six percent of the over 3,900 respondents indicated that it’s at least sometimes appropriate for docs to talk guns. In contrast, 34 percent indicated the topic of guns should never be broached with patients.
As part of the survey, participants were asked to indicate whether they were gun owners. Of those that admitted to having guns in the home, half stated firearm discussions with doctors were okay.
The Joyce Foundation, an organization that loudly speaks out against gun violence and in favor of more gun laws, funded the survey.
Doctors and 2A supporters have repeatedly clashed over this topic, most notably in Wollschlaeger v. Governor of the State of Florida. Commonly known as “Docs vs Glocks,” a Florida lawsuit spawned the 2011 Firearm Owners’ Privacy Act. The act prevented health care workers from discussing gun ownership or safety practices with patients.
After the passing of FOPA, there doctors banded together to sue the state of Florida. The doctors were joined by the Florida Pediatric Society, Florida Academy of Family Physicians, the Brady Campaign and the American Civil Liberties Union who aimed to overturn the act.
Dr. Louis St. Petery, one of the doctors opposed to FOPA, insisted that healthcare providers should be able to ask basic questions about gun ownership especially when children are present in the home.
“What we are after is to protect that kid and be sure that the kid doesn’t get killed or injured inappropriately because the firearm that is in the home is not properly stored,” St. Petery said in an interview with the Orlando Weekly.
The doctors’ case has been heard three times by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of appeals who, until recently, has ruled against it. In a surprising about-face, the appellate court agreed to rehear the case in front of a full court.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office, which represents the state in the case, condemned the appeal, saying the docs have no legal legs on which to stand.
“The act represents the most modest of all professional regulations — a requirement that doctors stick to practicing medicine — and it accomplishes its compelling goals without interfering with doctors’ professional judgment or otherwise burdening more speech than necessary,” Bondi said a brief.
ouch
In my younger days back in Georgia, every doctor and dentist office had copies of Field & Stream magazine.
ask to see the certification and insurance rider....there are several forms on the Net to this effect - they are easily found
When they give me the form I never answer that question. Once my Doctor asked me about why I left it blank and I said “why do you want to know?” and he got a little uncomfortable and never brought it up again.
Why would we be listening to The Anals of Internal Medicine?
If a doctor asks about guns in the home, I tell the truth. "Of course not".
I don't explain about my membership in the FR canoe club and that unfortunate boating accident. I don't freak out over the intrusive and politicized question that has nothing to do with the reason for my visit. I just tell the truth. I have no firearms that are any of FedGov's business or of my doctor's business. I just leave out the last part of that statement.
Or if you do drugs, or have illicit sex or, heh heh where does it stop?
I did not tolerate a doctor trying to lecture me on guns when dealing with a preschooler with a 102 fever. What’s the greater danger at that moment?
There needs to be some way to bankrupt the Joyce Foundation - it is nothing more than a money well for Communists.
I'd say assault and battery from an enraged parent...
Whether you own a gun or not has absolutely nothing to do with general health care. The gun grabbers will try anything they can think of to interfere with a person wishing to own a gun. This is just another way to mess with those who have or want to have a gun. I resist by refusing to answer any question from health care providers about guns. I advise you to do the same whether or not you own a gun.
If they put it on your medical records data base, you have a gun registration data base available to the US government. We lie. It’s none of the doctor’s business.
The public is very stupid and misinformed on this issue.
There is no privacy in medical records when it comes to the government or insurance companies.
NONE. Obama care ended it.
They have complete access.
The correct answer to any physician who asks whether there are guns in the home is: no.
This is not a place to take a stand, or show your rooster.
This is a place to not let them compile the data.
A simple no.
It is not a boundary violation, it is considered best practice and is now part of all assessments.
Pushed by the government.
The answer is a straight faced no.
Does anyone think that the government should decide what doctors and patients talk about?
___________________
That horse has been out of the barn for a long time.
So they think these gun owners are so stupid they need a medical doctor to tell them how to store their guns?
doc,s talking guns? why would it not be ok?
It depends on the context of the conversation.
See above posts for more answers.
I’m late to this party.
But funny story. I really like my kids pediatrician. He’s a young guy and pretty practical about treatment. I think he and his whole staff are pretty conservative.
A couple years ago, I took my daughter (then 12) to the doctor with a sore throat. He started with his usual checks and questions and then paused and asked, “Do you keep guns in your house?” There was a quiet moment of silence as I processed this question. Then my daughter (who has been shooting with me for a few years) piped up and asked, “What does that have to do with my sore throat?” He smiled and moved on, as if to say, “ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.” It never came up again.
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