FMA vs. NRA. Who wins?

This alert was recently sent out to the Florida Medical Association's members, presaging a special-interest free-for-all as it tussles with the NRA over its bill banning doctor inquiries about gun ownership.

As you have probably heard, there is legislation moving in the Florida Legislature, SB 432 and HB 155, which is a major intrusion into the patient-physician relationship. These bills place the government in the middle of the relationship between doctors and our patients by regulating what questions physicians can ask during a private medical examination. This legislation criminalizes doctors who ask their patients about gun ownership to ascertain accurate and complete patient history as well as advise patients on gun safety. The bill also prohibits physicians from discharging a patient from his or her practice based on the patient’s refusal to answer a question. This is an inappropriate intrusion of government into the bond that exists between doctors and their patients. The FMA is adamantly opposed to these bills.

We urge you to contact your hometown legislators today and tell them that physicians strongly oppose SB 432 and HB 155 because it puts the government in the middle of the private relationship between physicians and their patients. At a time when we are facing a physician shortage and competing with other states to retain and attract physicians, HB 155 sends the wrong message. This legislation, if passed, would make Florida the only state in the nation to pass such an extreme measure and would send the message to doctors all over the country that Florida is an unfriendly place to practice medicine.

Here’s an editorial from the Pensacola News Journal blasting the bill. It makes a lot of sense, IMO.

http://www.pnj.com/article/20110312/OPINION/103120306/Editorial-Another-bad-gun-bill

In Gov. Rick Scott’s quest to make Florida “business friendly,” he should consider the importance of having enough doctors to provide good health care to the state’s residents.

And then, should it pass, veto legislation intended to restrict doctors, nurses and other medical professionals from, in most cases, even asking about the presence of firearms in a home.

In cases where doctors might suspect depression, domestic violence, mental instability, inadequate adult oversight of children or other problems, concern about the availability of firearms becomes a potential medical issue.

Why the state should interfere in this is almost beyond comprehension. And why conservative lawmakers who profess to believe that government should stay out of health care and not impose politically motivated restrictions on individual freedom is also almost beyond comprehension.

We say “almost” because there is no real mystery: The NRA wants it. And when powerful NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer cracks her whip, Republicans in the Legislature shout “Thank you, ma’am, may I have another?”

Hammer maintains that the legislation “is about taking politics, pure politics, out of the examining room,” when of course it is exactly the reverse. It is imposing the NRA’s view of gun rights even into the medical examining room.

The NRA sees anything having to do with guns as a Second Amendment issue. But while the Constitution gives you the right to own a gun, it doesn’t say no one can ask you if have one.

The reality is this doesn’t even smack of regulating guns, much less restricting their use or ownership. But don’t hold your breath waiting for any Republican in Tallahassee to point out the obvious.

Frankly, it seems amazing that the legislation is even constitutional. What right does the state Legislature have to tell doctors what they can or cannot ask their patients in their professional duties?

Some legislators claim the law is needed because constituents complained about doctors refusing to treat them when they refused to answer the question. That refusal itself might raise a red flag if the doctor had some reason to worry about the presence of guns in a home, but otherwise, why don’t they just get another doctor? In a free society, isn’t that the proper response?

What’s next? Will people with high cholesterol who object to their doctors inquiring about their diets demand the Legislature ban doctors from asking about their potato chip consumption?

The Florida Medical Association, complaining that it’s already tough to recruit doctors to Florida, warns that the legislation — another bad gun bill sponsored by Sen. Greg Evers, R-Crestview — will make Florida “a laughingstock” in the profession.

Memo to Gov. Scott: Doctors earn a lot more than the average wage in Florida. We need more of them, not fewer.

The questioning of children has been going on for years without the knowledge of parents. It happened to me and needless to say I was “somewhat irrate” This bill is being misrepresented by those trying to take away the Constitutional Right to bear arms. My pediatrician (whom I like and respect) told me questions about guns in the house were asked of ALL the children he, his ARNP’s and PA’s see. “Johnny are there guns in your house?” Do you know where they are stored?” Do you know how many and what kind of guns are in the house?” EHR (Electronic Health Records) are coming this year. Dr’s and practices will be paid 21K the first year to convert to EHR with additional payments up to 60K over the next 5 years. Information about guns in the house at the fingertips of insurance and government representatives. What happens when a computer is lost or stolen? See this link from year 2000.
http://www.claremont.org/projects/pa...48/default.asp

This is a back door political agenda imposed on CHILDREN and parents by the American Association of Pediatricians. Ask your children if their doctor/nurse has questioned them about guns? (Without YOUR knowledge or PERMISSION)

Hope this bill is passed and signed ASAP. Don’t think that those in the medical field cannot be part of a political agenda. SB 432 HB155 allows for physician questioning patients with a “need to know” What it prevents is pediatricians with an agenda, from questioning your children without your knowledge. WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 /U.S. Newswire/ — Nationally recognized authorities in the field of handgun violence prevention are meeting Sunday through Tuesday in Washington, D.C., to share information on all aspects of the handgun epidemic and on efforts to control it by reducing access to handguns.

See 1995 link from HELP founder Katherine Kaufer Christoffel, M.D., The pediatrician’s agenda is to make children believe that “guns are BAD”
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18828903.html
Research HELP (Handgun epedemic lowering plan) You will see why this bill was proposed.
See an opposing physicians statements:

http://www.thegunzone.com/rkba/rkba-43.html

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