Posted on 02/23/2006 6:47:11 AM PST by SWO
CHESAPEAKE - A pediatrician who asks a child's parent about firearms in their home could lose his or her license or be disciplined under legislation being considered by a Senate committee today.
The bill would prohibit health care professionals from asking a patient about gun possession, ownership or storage unless the patient is being treated for an injury related to guns or asks for safety counseling about them.
Sponsored by Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Martinsville, the bill sailed through the House by a vote of 88 to 11 last week. A message seeking comment was left for the delegate; he did not return the call.
The legislation is opposed by The Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics because it blocks a common practice by medical professionals to inquire about gun ownership and safety when they go over a safety checklist with parents during a child's regular checkups from birth to puberty.
"We saw the bill but presumed no one in their right mind would put it through," said Dr. Leslie Ellwood, chapter president. "We thought it was such an unusual bill that anyone with common sense wouldn't pass it."
The national group is closely watching the bill now.
Some local medical professionals are incensed by the bill and the rapid way it is moving through the General Assembly.
The bill also is opposed by several medical groups, including The Medic al Society of Virginia and nurse associations.
The National Rifle Association supports the bill because it will protect gun owners "from intrusive, unnecessary questions from medical professionals," according to the NRA Institute for Legislative Action Web site.
"We don't have an opinion or issue an opinion on guns," Ellwood said. "We don't say it is a bad thing to have around children. Our plan is always to find out how the guns are managed in the household so they are safe."
The national pediatric group puts out a guide on safety counseling for pediatricians under its injury prevention program.
The state-endorsed guidelines are used by not just doctors and nurses but by others whose jobs involve children.
Medical professionals are encouraged to use the routine safety survey to counsel parents about everything from car safety seats and child-proofing a house and backyard pool to bicycle helmets and fire safety once the child reaches the appropriate age.
Pediatricians use the checklist to curtail preventable injuries, such as poisoning by household cleaning products, not to be intrusive, say Virginia physicians.
"The bill hits at the heart and core of prevention and protecting our children," said Dr. Nancy Welch, Chesapeake Health Department director. "I am just amazed that it has gone this far and seems to be flying under the radar."
A board-certified pediatrician, Welch e-mailed three committee members from the South Hampton Roads delegation after being notified about the Senate committee meeting today.
Sen. Harry Blevins, R-Chesapeake, has a policy of giving each bill a fair hearing before commenting on it, said his legislative assistant, Karen Papasodora-Cochrane.
Sen. Frederick Quayle, R-Chesapeake could not be reached for comment.
Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, said she thinks it's a bad bill.
"I don't know how it even got out of the House because a person who is practicing the healing arts, if they really have a child's safety in mind, would ask that question and others," she said.
If parents think the question is intrusive, Lucas said they can always tell the health care provider: "It's none of your business."
THE POLL TO DATE:
Should the state disallow pediatricians from asking parents about gun ownership?
Yes 49.25%
No 48.88%
Undecided 1.88% Total: 800 votes
Reach Janette Rodrigues at (757) 222-5208 or janette.rodrigues@pilotonline.com.
© 2006 HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com
Aww, I was kind of proud to check "Yes" on that question when I first took my daughter to the pediatrician.
So right now you if you bring your kid in for an ear infection, you're asked if you own a gun? To what end? And if you lie and say no...are you committing some kind of crime? This is confusing.
Guns? Sure, and we have a game where we spread them all over the floor, and the first kid to match up all the guns with the right ammunition gets to shoot somebody.
"We don't have an opinion or issue an opinion on guns," Ellwood said. "We don't say it is a bad thing to have around children. Our plan is always to find out how the guns are managed in the household so they are safe."
in otherwords we just want to control what you have in your home.
My six year old informed me last week that she wants a rifle for her birthday. I told her she'd have to wait until she's 9 or 10.
Another example of the government telling people how they can talk to other people.....
I was happy to open my coat and show her.
I have mixed feelings about this law. One one hand, it is an effort to counter the idea that gun ownership is a "health" issue, another tactic by which the gun-grabbers seek to marginalize gun ownership and legitimize further restrictions on ownership. To that extent, I sympathize with the law. On the other hand, it criminalizes the mere asking of a question, and to that extent reminds me of ominous trends in Left-wing legislation, such as laws prohibiting landlords from asking certain questions of prospective tenants. So this cuts both ways, in my opinion.
lol
The odds of a child dying in your swimming pool are 100 times greater than dying from a gun.
Will the Docs ask about swimming pools, or are they just guilt mongers for the politically correct?
We need a law for this? What happened to the ability to say "why is that any of your business?"
The policy was designed on their part to make it difficult for gun owners in some small way, it had nothing to do with safety.
Personally I'm glad to see it go.
If the medical professionals had their way, we'd all be in superb health doing our state mandated exercise regimen in our straight jackets, protected from dangerous objects and harmful behaviors. If history is any indication, doctors and social engineering make a bad mix.
Given that medical records are going to be computerized and follow you around all your life, and given that health care could be taken over by the government and given that employers are now using health care information as an excuse to harass workers, be careful what you tell doctors about the legal activity of your personal life.
What business is it of a doctor to know whether or not you own a gun? There are a lot of nosey p.c. questions now asked by doctors that is none of their business.
Supporting the state mandating how an individual must practice his craft, and what he can and can't say - can cut both ways. Witness phamacists in MA being required to carry kill pills.
Either you stand for free speech or you don't and must accept majority rule setting limits or mandates on what you must say.
An outside issue is related to abortions, because state interest in protecting people from being killed, the state doing a really lame ass job of trying to prevent it by requiring information be shared is a reasonable temporary half-measure.
I've been asked this by my children's pediatrician as well as my endocrinologist. With my children's doc, I just replied that I refuse to answer the question. I was pressed by a nurse once and simply told her it was none of their business.
My endocrinologist asked me this on a patient information sheet. I just wrote a note that said "I fail to see how this pertains to the treatment of my thyroid."
I think the first reponse to such a question should be "Beg pardon?"
Then if they repeat the question, ask how this could have any possible relevance to the current medical situation.
If they come back with some nonsense about their being concerned for childrens' safety, just look at them like they're an idiot (a response that should be coming up naturally) until they more onto another question.
Prompt them with "Are there any relevant questions you'd like to ask?" if necessary.
Get her a Red Rider and be sure she learns to treat it like she would a real gun.
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