"Why no, Doctor - I don't own any guns"

[steelheart]

If your Doctor starts asking you intrusive questions about whether you have guns in your home, what do yo do? I say flat out lie to him/her.

If a Doctor is going to ask questions about things that are clearly none of his/her business, I say we have no obligation to answer truthfully.

Disarming Questions

By Jacob Sullum

Physicians like to think they operate outside the grubby commercial world where the customer is always right. That is why a medical examination, ostensibly a service that you purchase from a doctor, is actually a ceremony designed to put you in your place.

Although you arrive for your appointment on time, you have to sit in the waiting room for at least half an hour, which impresses upon you the important point that your time is much less valuable than the doctor?s. Then you are brought to an examination room, where you are instructed to remove your clothing and put on a skimpy apron humorously described as a "gown."

You wait in the chilly room another half-hour until the (fully dressed) doctor deigns to visit you. He probes your private parts, asks you personal questions, comments on your weight, stares at your blemishes, and chides you for your unhealthy habits.

Jeremiah Barondess, president of the New York Academy of Medicine, apparently thinks this experience is not invasive and humiliating enough. He has come up with a way to make patients even more uncomfortable: ask them about their guns.

According to a recent story in The New York Observer, Barondess is the main instigator of a 13-group coalition called Doctors Against Handgun Injury. "To promote public safety," says the coalition, "health professionals and health systems should ask about firearm ownership when taking a medical history or engaging in preventive counseling....Patients should be provided with information about the risks of having a firearm in the home, as well as methods to reduce the risk, should they continue to choose to keep them."

The expectation that patients will think twice about owning a gun suggests the sort of "information" doctors are likely to provide. It will consist mainly of factoids that exaggerate the risks and discount the benefits of gun ownership.

Patients will be told, for example, that guns are used to murder people far more often than they are used to kill assailants; they won?t be told that people who use guns in self-defense almost never need to fire them, let alone wound or kill the attacker. If patients actually have a question about reducing gun-related risks--such as how to store a weapon so it is accessible to the owner in an emergency but not to curious children--they will be much better off consulting a gun dealer.

Barondess insists he is not pushing a political agenda under the guise of medicine. "We are neutral politically, academically, and intellectually," he told the Observer. "Without politicizing this, it is possible for medical professionals to proselytize for this and point out the dangers of gun violence."

Yeah, and the doctor will be with you shortly. Let?s put aside the fact that Barondess?s coalition advocates stricter gun control laws along with nosier medical exams. The question is, given the multitude of ways in which people can be injured or killed, why focus on guns?

"Getting shot and dead is certainly a clinical issue," Barondess says. "Part of this mayhem is preventable, and doctors are in the prevention-of-premature-death business."

But since almost everything we do carries some level of risk, this reasoning would make just about any detail of our lives an appropriate topic for medical probing. Do you have a swimming pool? Do you ski? Do you cook with gas? Do you have scissors? Do you run with them?

If doctors decide whether to ask about a particular device or activity based on the number of deaths associated with it, surely automobiles are as worthy a topic as guns. Do you own a car? Do you wear a seat belt? Do you speed? How much braking distance do you allow for in the rain?

Patients probably would object to such questions, since doctors have no special expertise in this area. But the same is true about guns--even more so, since physicians are more likely to have personal experience with cars.

The absurd idea that physicians are authorities on anything that can cause death or injury reflects the arrogance of a cartelized profession whose members flaunt their power as official gatekeepers, restrict competition with the government?s help, and routinely substitute their judgment for that of their customers. Given the seething resentment created by medical high-handedness, doctors would be well-advised to avoid broaching the subject of gun violence with their patients.

From www.reason.com

[ReefBlueCoupe]

Never been asked that by any Dr. If I were to be asked, I'd first retort wanting to know why he wants to know. No matter what reason he gives, I'll tell him it's none of his business.

[pipoman]

10+ years ago when I took my 5 year old son to the pediatrician for his school physical the doctor asked if there are guns in the home. I answered the question by asking, "what does that have to do with giving my son a physical?" The doctor acted like I was being difficult. I refused to answer any more questions not directly related to my son's physical health. I told him (after I received the physical slip) he was no longer our pediatrician.

[rangermonroe]

Do you have scissors? Do you run with them?

roflmao

"Just when I can't get the 12pack open and it's my turn to shoot!"

[Sarge]

My standard answer to such a question would be "NYFB", followed by

"By the way, you're fired- and you can go suck an egg for the fee for this office visit."

[HangFire83]

When the doc asks about your guns ask him/her if he/she drives a car to and from work. Cars kill too!!!

[Redworm]

bahahahahaha

I doubt many physicians will actually take this seriously :P

"By the way, you're fired- and you can go suck an egg for the fee for this office visit."

while that's certainly the right thing to do in my opinion, have fun getting sent to collections on a $20 copay

[Rich Lucibella]

Simple-
Tell him that he's a technician who cures disease and the last you checked Gun Ownership was not listed in the DRG (Diagnosis Related Groups) database.

Then ask him to document his formal education in Public Health and Social Policy. Neither are taught to any extent in US Medical Schools, rendering his "intervention" little more than busy-body meddling.

Thank him for his interest and invite him to the range.
Rich

[Handy]

"Do you, Doc?"

"Ah, no I don't. I'm concerned with the safety of my family around dangerous weapons."

"Strange. You're concerned about your family's well being, but you have no means to protect them. Do you know Kung Fu, or live across the street from a police station?"

"No, ...but I just don't feel safe around guns."

"Have you had any training, or treatment for your phobia?"





"Well, nice seeing you, Andrew. Take care."

"You too, Doc. And feel free to call me if you want to arrange some firearms instruction for you or your family."

[XavierBreath]

Most of the docs I know, including the women, shoot.
Most hunt, some shoot skeet, others shoot IDPA.
I know quite a few who CCW.
The professional medical organizations are almost universally anti-gun.
Here are a few:
American Medical Association
Ambulatory Pediatric Association
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Civil Liberties Union
American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing
American Medical Women`s Association
American Medical Student Association
American Medical Association
American Association for the Surgery of Trauma
American Trauma Society
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association for World Health
American Nurses Association
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Trauma Society

These organizations are run buy political animals who intrude on physician practice to forward their social agendas. I have seen some docs and nurses, including myself, tell these people to go pack sand. Other docs are not so savy or knowledgeable. They are simply repeating the party line. You can educate your doctor with facts, but not with emotion. There is nothing at all wrong with discussing your view if he opens this subject. I would not lie, I would try to educate the physician. If he says he doesn't have time, then tell him neither do you, and to get back to work.

[Eghad]

If you asked that question in SE Texas the Doc might have to spend more time with patients...lol

[invention_45]

I usually go to doctors' appointments after work and, not wanting to leave it in my car like I usually do, and having a large leather briefcase in which to put it, I put it there.

So if my doctor ever asks me the question in the original post, I will say "No. But I have one right in this briefcase. Would you like to see it?".

[Cowman]

It's a symptom of a larger problem. Everyone wants to be safe and the experts have all figured out quite correctly that more freedom leads to more problems and things are not as safe.

You can see it in schools in how locked down and controled things are. They're more like prisons these days. You can see it in the airline searches and the NYC subway searches. Your workplace probably has some policies to keep you safe.

Someone breaks in, steals your stuff, etc you're supposed to run away/hide/cooperate. Wastebasket fire? Run away, don't put it out!

People have become so obsessed with making everything perfectly safe and living as long as they can. Now they're more and more willing to give up liberties to do that. I hate it. To me a life not lived free is no life at all. Nobody cares about self-respect, the "primitive" concept of honor, or anything but their own survival and safety anymore.

Makes me sad.

[afsnco]

Even better, next time a doc asks about your gun ownership and tells you how unsafe they are, point out to him/her that the average American is 9000 times (literally) more likely to be accidentally killed by their doc due to bad diagnosis/improper prescription/cutting off the wrong appendage, etc., than to be accidentally killed by a gun. Almost 3 times more people are accidentally killed by a doc than are killed in car accidents each year. Ask them if they also warn all patients who enter their door how dangerous it is to be in the doc's office. That should be some good "shut-up juice." http://www.michnews.com/cgi-bin/artm...ew.cgi/95/6217

[Savage10FP308]

WOW!:barf: Why get smart with them or tell them it's none of their business? Why not try and get them interested? If a few of us would take the time to have a civilized conversation with ANYONE (not just a doctor) who asks such a question then maybe more people wouldn't have such a narrow minded view on guns! If you would tell them why you own guns, and why you shoot, and the benefits of having guns, and the safety precautions you take, and how you teach your entire family to handle firearms safely then maybe we could get a few more people on our side! Owning guns and shooting often can get rather expensive. It sounds like shooting is right up there alley! Shooting and owning guns is a lot of fun and has many upsides. If more people knew this then more people might own guns!

[Musketeer]

Standard question at the pediatrition. I just lie. Every other doc in my liberal la la land will ask the same question and getting all huffy about it will only result in not having a doc to take your kids to.

Of course at the same time I am lying I am usually carrying in either a tuckable rig or smart carry.

[Pointer]

Ask the doctor if he keeps rubbers in his bedstand...

[rellascout]

In VA we are trying to pass a law that will prevent a physican from asking any questions that are not related to medical care.

VA-ALERT: VCDL Update 2/26/06

*************************************************
5. Medical Boundary Violations
*************************************************

Delegate Ward Armstrong (D-10) sponsored a bill, HB1531, that would
have prohibited medical professionals from asking patients questions
concerning firearm ownership. This bill cleared the Virginia House
with a bi-partisan vote of 88-11 but died in the Senate Education and
Health Committee by a vote of 6-9.

Everyone should read Dr. Timothy Wheeler's editorial on "boundary
violations". http://www.haciendapub.com/article14.html

Remember, you don't have to answer questions you don't want to. Just
because a doctor or nurse or other health care provider asks you a
question, especially one unrelated to your treatment, doesn't mean you
must answer it. If you think it's intrusive, and you want to be real
nice, take anti-gun Senator Lucas' recomendation and say, "It's none
of your business." Or you can inform them that their intrusive
request is a "boundary violation" and you will report it.

I for one hope that it passes.

[Cowman]

I don't know if I want laws on what my doctor and I can/can't talk about. As long as he's maintaining confidentiality, does it really matter?
It's not like you are legaly required to answer truthfully/at all.

Pretty lame that they're doing this, but free speech applies to all without exception.

[Hkmp5sd]

If your Doctor starts asking you intrusive questions about whether you have guns in your home, what do yo do? I say flat out lie to him/her.

As I carry 24/7, including doctors visits, he has a good idea that there are guns in my house.

On the other hand, I would love for a doctor to start preaching to me about guns. The only thing I like to argue about more than guns is religion.

[denfoote]

Both my family doctor and ophthalmologist know I shoot. I needed the referal to get my eyes checked and had him specially place my bifocal lens to better facilitate seeing the sights!!

[MeekAndMild]

I'd probably invite him deer hunting and if he begged off I'd start lecturing him about the positive health benefits of venison...omega 3 fatty acid ratios, lack of artificial hormone treatments, lack of antibiotics et cetera. Then I'd ask him if he ever got a semiautomatic pistol or was he still carrying that weinerdog S&W?

You know you guys have the right to go to whichever doc you want unless you're a union puke and have to go to whatever HMO they sent you to.

[Silver Bullet]

Lots of good answers here, but

"Strange. You're concerned about your family's well being, but you have no means to protect them. Do you know Kung Fu, or live across the street from a police station?"

"No, ...but I just don't feel safe around guns."

"Have you had any training, or treatment for your phobia?"

this takes the prize !

[JJB2]

funny i should come across this thread tonite..... i went with my wife to see the dr this afternoon and i noticed for the first time the big signs on the office doors the said no firearms allowed inside...... on another matter winter before last i had my eye dr make me some lenses i could see thru my scope with.. my eyes had changed as i was older and i couldn't see thru my scope right with my new prescription... he said bring the scope and i'll get you shooting with your scope again.. an he did... i also wear these glasses to see my computer screen where the others fail me...... i agree that if i shoot or not is no drs. business unless my problem is lead poisoning..........

[tyme]

"No, but I go to the range every once in a while."
"No, but I used to."
"I had one, but I took it to a gun buy-back."

I like Handy's "Do you?" Unfortunately, it's likely to be interpreted as evasive, and is therefore about the same as answering "yes." Also, it puts the Doc in the same position you were in. If you're a rabid anti-gunner and he's pro-gun, he may not care enough about the 2A to lose you as a patient, and may lie and drop the issue.