Pediatricians asking parents if they own a gun

WKYC Cleveland ^ | May 6, 2003 | Lydia Esparra

[Chirodoc]

CLEVELAND -- Pediatricians are now routinely asking parents whether or not they own a gun.

"I really didn't expect to be asked such a question with a little baby," said parent Joe Falat who brought in his six-month-old son for a check-up.

But Falat says the question doesn't bother him.

"We just started asking about guns the last few years," said pediatrician Dr. Ruthanne Muniak. "Part of the reason is for incidents like Columbine, Colorado where children went into their grandfathers' homes to get guns

Muniak says she doesn't mean to pry into a parent's personal life, but instead uses it as an educational tool to teach the parents ways to keep their child out of the emergency room.

Jeremy Marr and his wife also took their 15-month-old daughter to Muniak. Marr says she didn't ask about pets, so he couldn't understand why she'd ask about guns.

"It's a constitutional right to own a gun and it's not anything they need to know about," said Marr.

Muniak doesn't plan on changing her list anytime soon.

"It does happen fairly often where kids pick up guns and think they're toys and play with them and pediatrics have always been involved with prevention of diseases and prevention of trauma," she said.

Muniak says most of her patients think asking about guns is a good idea and it gives them a reason to talk about gun safety.

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[Chirodoc]

I ask patients if they own guns when I need a hunting partner. But seriously, if I asked anyone that here in Montana they would run me out of town.

For Drs. that are engaged in preventing trauma, only a liberal Dr. would ask patients if they own guns. A conservative Dr. would ask if there are any domestic disputes going on or unstable individuals in the household, and refer them for proper care.

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

Or a five-gallon bucket.

[strela]

Or an automobile.

[Calpernia]

>>>>Marr says she didn't ask about pets, so he couldn't understand why she'd ask about guns.

My family doctor has in our file exactly how many pets we have. Never once asked about weapons.

[MississippiMan]

Fits right in to the CDC's attempts to classify gun violence as a "disease."

MM

[Just another Joe]

Should any doctor ask me this question I would politely reply that it was none of their business, ask for a copy of all my medical records, and find another doctor.

[umgud]

Or a liberal school teacher.........

[DonQ]

I think this is a perfectly reasonable question to put to parents of small children (ditto for asking if they smoke). Although the child brought to pediatrician might be a small baby, he won't stay small for long. The handgun control people had a very provocative ad campaign about five years ago with an ad that said "John Robinson hid his gun so well that it took his little girl six years to find it."

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

"We just started asking about guns the last few years," said pediatrician Dr. Ruthanne Muniak.

Well, Doctor, has it occurred to you that it's none of your damn business what tools I have in my household?

This is political and nothing more. They're not asking patients if they engage in rock climbing, skiing, full contact football, and other risky hobbies. If they're so worried about children's safety, they should be asking them if they wear a seatbelt in the car and a bike helmet when riding.

[dighton]

My pediatrician in Chicago (long, long ago) had photos of his African safaris in his office.

[Polycarp]

Old thread: Home school mom dismayed/furious at questions family doctor asked her 12 year old daughter

[Calpernia]

>>>>domestic disputes going on or unstable individuals in the household

I did have questions about this from my OB/GYN. Matter of fact, my hospitals that I gave birth in also asked me if I was comfortable going home.

[aruanan]

Pediatricians asking parents if they own a gun

But not whether they own a car or a bucket, both of which lead to more deaths of small children every year than do guns.

[strela]

Naah. No resale value. Besides, they whine and you need duct tape to shut 'em up.

[tubebender]

Or how about the proper baby seat for the car...

[Dianna]

"We just started asking about guns the last few years," said pediatrician Dr. Ruthanne Muniak. "Part of the reason is for incidents like Columbine, Colorado where children went into their grandfathers' homes to get guns

Let's see...the Columbine kids got guns from their grandparents, so we're going to ask all the regular parents if they have guns. If anyone asks me, I'll be sure to tell them my parents have no guns.

[SandRat]

I ask patients if they own guns when I need a hunting partner. But seriously, if I asked anyone that here in Montana they would run me out of town.

You'd fit right in down here in Cochise County, AZ.

[luckystarmom]

I think it is reasonable to ask. If they do give them a handout on gun safety.

I know our pediatrician asked if we had a pool (which we have), and then gave us a handout on pool safety.

[aruanan]

I did have questions about this from my OB/GYN. Matter of fact, my hospitals that I gave birth in also asked me if I was comfortable going home.

On a somewhat related note, someone I know had fallen on ice and cut her chin. At the emergency room she told them what had happened and then was immediately asked, "Has he done this to you before?"