I said “none of your damn business” in a stern voice. That shut him right up and we started discussing my treatment.
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I am a lucky man to have a Doctor that hunts & loves her guns ! Once in a while some things are just right ~ ONCE IN A WHILE !!! BE SAFE , BE READY & TEACH YOUR FAMILY WELL !!! 
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I talk to one of my Dr’s about guns, he’s a gun guy, it comes up naturally in our conversations, we’ve been hunting and shooting together and he does not put what we discuss about firearms in my medical records. If a Dr other than him were to ask me if I had firearms in my home, I would politely decline to answer the question. My children have also been instructed not to answer that question too. I like the answer in the article from the gentleman from AL though, I’ll have to try to remember that one.
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Speaking as a physician, i think i have a few thoughts:
- not all of us agree with the liberal ivory tower idiots that seem to write a bunch of this stuff. Some of us think that by politicizing medicine, we run the risk of driving away people who need care…and thus betraying our oaths. There have already been some on this thread who have shared they have delayed medical care because they are afraid their doctor will behave like some Stasi informer or Russian health commissar or something. And i would say that’s on us.
As much as you can, people, vote with your feet. Find a doctor who will put you first, and won’t step on your beliefs or play “government informer” with your records. Thats a violation of the hippocratic oath, btw, and likely legally actionable. With the exception of risk to life, we aren’t allowed to share records except maybe under subpoena.
- not everyone agrees with the anals of internal medicine, and i certainly wouldnt be so certain that some Journal’s opinion would constitute a viable legal defense for violating a physician-patient relationship. Perhaps we need to sue a few more doctors (i cant believe i said that) to make them put their money and reputation where their mouth is. See if a court thinks some opinion piece in the Annals justifies violating patient confidentiality. Or if some doctor (or, better yet, a university hospital) needs to be signing a paper with lots of little zeros on it…
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and that’s another thing. These northeastern university ivory tower idiots need to understand that Gun Culture is a specific culture. And information on a person’s defensive arrangements (including firearms) is something that is only shared with trusted others. And is inappropriate and awkward to ask about.
They need to spend a little time and effort taking sensitivity courses on how to interact with gun culture. Otherwise, you just look like an idiot…and someone who needs to get their garbage in order or find another line of work…
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My doctors have never asked about guns, probably because I live in Alabama and many times this question would not go over well.
My answer would be a calm “none of your business”. If I had young children today I would instruct them that answers to such questions is “talk to dad/mom”. No questions about arguments, how we drive, when you study, who visits the house, etc. Standard answer: “talk to dad/mom”. Then I look for another doctor.
A while ago, my granddaughter, about 8, was in school at a special presentation by a visiting presenter when, at the end of the presentation she asked “how many of you have guns in the house?” The presentation war not even close to any kind of gun issue.
My son was in the principal’s office early the next morning. The presenter had NO permission to ask such questions.
Teach your children EARLY that they never answer such questions and never talk about guns in public.
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@Steven108, Have you ever thought about signing up for Doctors for Gun Rights?
[Asking depending on what kind of MD you are]
I recently had an encounter where a guys doc would not fill a medical slip from a diagnosis from being a child [The worst part is he said the doctor that would not basically say he was legally sane to have concealed handgun permit in Louisiana was the doc who initially gave diagnosis for ADD].
@David341—Asking same question to you as well [One on top of this one].
Appreciate the referral. Don’t think I can though…for the same reasons. I also have patients that seem to be scared of firearms for one reason or another, and I don’t want them to not seek help because they might be afraid to seek help from a physician that is comfortable with owning and using firearms.
And I always seem to have too much on my plate already to join anything else…
That organization sounds good however, and I applaud their effort to try to raise awareness and advocate.
Thanks.
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Ask the doctor why s/he did not ask about common household chemicals in the home, the number one killer of children in homes. Gun accidents fall well below many other items.
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There is growing frustration with gun violence in Emergency Rooms because it is preventable and because high velocity ammunition causes wounds that do devastating tissue damage that usually need the equivalent of multiple surgeries and this ties up the surgery suite as well as the ER and many patients wait and may badly need emergency surgery but the resources are not available. There is also a significant cost to the hospital to expand capacity to try to be ready for the additional demand. Congress has not funded research into the most common causes of gun violence and some hospitals are looking into how to better understand and have an impact on reducing the violence…because the government has not attempted to answer this question. I don’t know why physicians in primary care would take time to screen or counsel their patients on gun ownership, but it’s likely either misguided state laws that seek to invade privacy by using healthcare providers as pawns, or the physician has a personal opinion that gun ownership has risks that are not always managed well …and they want to provide suggestions for reducing the chance of negligent discharge and injury. It’s unlikely that the question is politically motivated. I’ve worked 35 years in healthcare and Physicians are concerned with medical care, personal reputation, developing a financially successful practice, and improving their community. I’ve worked with well over 100 docs and beyond a few with huge egos, the vast majority are really caring and good people. Try to be polite if you don’t want to answer. For example, you seem really interested and concerned and I appreciate that. I can tell you I think guns should be carefully secured so the risk to family and friends is as close to zero as possible. It’s a personal decision, but if I owned a gun I would want a safe or other means to keep it secure.
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Your state must have different rules than mine. In Michigan, hospitals are a no carry zone by law. Many of the physician offices are owned and operated by the hospitals…some in buildings attached to the hospital and some remotely located. I’m not sure how a judge would rule if it were at a remote office but it would be risky and could lead to loss of license and temporarily forfeiture of the pistol.
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Dr. @David341 that choice is a very commendable; I’m able to see you have a general feeling(s) to help your patients,
Side note: The lady[“mamaw”] who brought me up to age 17 who was married loved her occupation as R.N.for 46 years.
Therefore, I probably saw a doctor more than most[sadly] as a child but my point to this is that it’s become a task finding doctors like you as an adult. When insurance was/will soon be effective could/can’t decide on a doctor due to lack of info.
Dr. @David341, Any tips as to where what, why to rate a physician other than shoddy google reviews?
Douglas53 - I believe all or most states require further questioning in ED’s when confronted with a gunshot wound - You, I believe, are totally missing the point of this thread - As long as the “honest” answer to a question is not “required by law” you can tell the asker whatever you wish, personally I just say “NO” and leave the politics out of it at that time …. (BTW, are you anti 2A ?)
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I always thought the best answer is no i don’t have one gun in my house
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Well, in Louisiana have to get medical disclosure for permit.
Good question. The best thing I can think of right now is to ask other people in the firearms community in your area. I would imagine that if a doctor has an inappropriate, unprofessional and unseemly anti-gun culture bias, there would be stories about it. Alternatively, if someone knows of a doctor that just wants to provide good care and isn’t bigoted against members of gun culture, that would likely get around too. And I would suggest supporting that doctor with your business and your trust and confidence.
Other than that…I would guess that you would have better luck staying away from large universities. As a generalization based in my personal experience and training, doctors in large universities often have a lot of trouble seeing past their prejudices.
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I’m not sure, but the last time I checked the MMWR/CDC stats, pools and water accidents were #1. Firearms don’t even start to come anywhere near to catching up until kids are like 15…and the whole inner city violence issue starts to catch up (usually in cities run almost exclusively by Democrats).
Which is why I never understood people who have panic attacks when finding out they are in the home of a gun owner, but don’t blink an eye visiting the home of a pool owner.
After all…it’s a darn sight harder to lock up a pool securely than to lock up a firearm. Can’t put a swimming pool into a safe and lock it up.
I’ll tell you…from my personal experience, the chronic patients in Pediatric ICUs are primarily either kiddos with chronic congenital conditions, or kiddos who got into the pool and suffered serious brain damage from near-drowning. It’s a pretty difficult scene.
But, again…I don’t hear Pelosi, Schumer, Giffords or Obama/Clinton talking about banning pools…but that WOULD potentially actually lower childhood injury/mortality (not that I’m suggesting we ban pools).
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Great, advise.
I did, however, contact that organization, I told you about but heard nothing back…
But, you are right, I will ask people.
Thanks, Dr. @David341 ! Glad to find others in the health community such as yourself.
Thanks David. I was referring to a study by insurance companies. I’m sure the CDC research considers other variables. But both present some agreement: guns remain one of the safest sports/hobbies/activities. I thought I had saved the source of the insurance company study, but unfortunately can’t find it! (Ugh!) I do remember it listed roller skating as well above childhood harm than firearms.
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