doctors cannot ask about guns

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netrox

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Incredible... FL bill makes it illegal for doctors to ask their patients about their gun ownership:

Pediatricians and other doctors soon will not be allowed to ask patients or their parents whether they have guns at home. Pediatricians commonly ask this question as a prelude to discussing gun safety in order to prevent accidents. Florida's governor, Rick Scott, is expected to sign this bill, and doctors will be liable for a $500 fine simply for asking that question and recording the answer in the patient's medical record.

The main backer for this bill is the NRA (National Rifle Association).

The NRA says that asking patients about gun ownership infringes on their Second Amendment rights."

Asking Patients About Guns To Become Illegal In Florida

Asking them about their gun ownership is an infringement of the Second Amendment?!?!?! Wow, they're going too far.

What's next, fine doctors for asking about religions because it violates the First Amendment?!?!
 
Unless a patient shows up at the ER with a gunshot wound, why would the doctor need to ask about gun ownership?

I don't think it needs to be a routine doctor question. Patients shouldn't be required to answer that kind of question unless it's relevant to patient's injury or illness.

I also don't think there needs to be a law against a doctor asking. That seems rather harsh.

If doctors want to discuss gun safety, they can do that with all their patients without singling out anyone. They can give each patient an NRA pamphlet on gun safety. :D
 
Reba said:
Unless a patient shows up at the ER with a gunshot wound, why would the doctor need to ask about gun ownership?

I don't think it needs to be a routine doctor question. Patients shouldn't be required to answer that kind of question unless it's relevant to patient's injury or illness.
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So, doctors shouldn't ask about their diet? Their exercise? Sports? Heck, don't ask until they got sick or injured?

It's about prevention and safety.
 
netrox said:
So, doctors shouldn't ask about their diet? Their exercise? Sports? Heck, don't ask until they got sick or injured?

It's about prevention and safety.
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Docs should ask if their kids juggle with knives and chainsaws.
 
Reba said:
Unless a patient shows up at the ER with a gunshot wound, why would the doctor need to ask about gun ownership?

I don't think it needs to be a routine doctor question. Patients shouldn't be required to answer that kind of question unless it's relevant to patient's injury or illness.

I also don't think there needs to be a law against a doctor asking. That seems rather harsh.

If doctors want to discuss gun safety, they can do that with all their patients without singling out anyone. They can give each patient an NRA pamphlet on gun safety. :D
Click to expand...

I'm assuming that doctors suspected mental illness or suicidal tendencies and since gun ownership is very high in Florida... I guess doctors just wanted to make sure one does not cause harm to others or oneself.

correct me if I'm wrong - about 20 miles from Miami is the poorest town in USA. Miami-Dade police has its hands full with gun-related incidents including self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

and also correct me if I'm wrong - hospitals are allowed to detain patients for up to 3 days under psychiatric observation.
 
Beowulf said:
Docs should ask if their kids juggle with knives and chainsaws.
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They should ask if their families keep dried beans at home. You never know when a kid will stick one up the nose.
 
Jiro said:
I'm assuming that doctors suspected mental illness or suicidal tendencies and since gun ownership is very high in Florida... I guess doctors just wanted to make sure one does not cause harm to others or oneself.

correct me if I'm wrong - about 20 miles from Miami is the poorest town in USA. Miami-Dade police has its hands full with gun-related incidents including self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
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That's why I don't like to see a blanket law against a doctor asking that question if he has a specific reason to ask it of a specific patient, as in a suicidal patient.

But I don't see any reason to make it a standard question to be asked of each patient.
 
Reba said:
They should ask if their families keep dried beans at home. You never know when a kid will stick one up the nose.
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Or goldfish. My mind is reeling.
 
Reba said:
Unless a patient shows up at the ER with a gunshot wound, why would the doctor need to ask about gun ownership?

I don't think it needs to be a routine doctor question. Patients shouldn't be required to answer that kind of question unless it's relevant to patient's injury or illness.

I also don't think there needs to be a law against a doctor asking. That seems rather harsh.

If doctors want to discuss gun safety, they can do that with all their patients without singling out anyone. They can give each patient an NRA pamphlet on gun safety. :D
Click to expand...

The first thing that comes to mind is the number of accidental child shooting victims that occur every year in the homes of parents who own guns. A pedicatrician is concerned with child safety. It is reasonable that they would discuss the risks of gun ownership when a child is in the home, just as it is reasonable that they would discuss the risks of leaving household cleaners that could result in the death of a child within the child's reach.

If we did not have an issue with children being killed by their parents' guns, we would not need to take the matter into discussion.
 
netrox said:
So, doctors shouldn't ask about their diet? Their exercise? Sports? Heck, don't ask until they got sick or injured?

It's about prevention and safety.
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Asking and informing are two different things.

Do the doctors ask about every possible potential safety hazard and unhealthy habit? Do they ask if the kid lives in a dangerous neighborhood, or how many men sleep with their mama?
 
This is some sort of bizarre type of Totalitarian.
 
Reba said:
Asking and informing are two different things.

Do the doctors ask about every possible potential safety hazard and unhealthy habit? Do they ask if the kid lives in a dangerous neighborhood, or how many men sleep with their mama?
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In many cases, yes, they do. And the degree of risk to the child is duly noted in the medical records.
 
jillio said:
The first thing that comes to mind is the number of accidental child shooting victims that occur every year in the homes of parents who own guns. A pedicatrician is concerned with child safety. It is reasonable that they would discuss the risks of gun ownership when a child is in the home, just as it is reasonable that they would discuss the risks of leaving household cleaners that could result in the death of a child within the child's reach.
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Do doctors ask kids if their parents leave household cleaners in their reach?

Is the kid a patient or a snitch? Is the kid even a reliable reporter of what is in the family home? Maybe he doesn't know what the parents have, or maybe he thinks he'll get them in trouble.

If we did not have an issue with children being killed by their parents' guns, we would not need to take the matter into discussion.
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Do you really believe a doctor's question will prevent children from being killed by their parents' guns?
 
jillio said:
The first thing that comes to mind is the number of accidental child shooting victims that occur every year in the homes of parents who own guns. A pedicatrician is concerned with child safety. It is reasonable that they would discuss the risks of gun ownership when a child is in the home, just as it is reasonable that they would discuss the risks of leaving household cleaners that could result in the death of a child within the child's reach.

If we did not have an issue with children being killed by their parents' guns, we would not need to take the matter into discussion.
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isn't it a law for doctor to report to police for ANY gun-related wound?
 
Jiro said:
isn't it a law for doctor to report to police for ANY gun-related wound?
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I think it would vary from state to state. Although I wouldn't be surprised if it's the law to do so in most states.
 
jillio said:
In many cases, yes, they do. And the degree of risk to the child is duly noted in the medical records.
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Every hazard? How many hours does the doctor have for this questioning of each patient?

Ah, "duly noted in the medical records." Ah, another notation about so-and-so on file. :hmm: Exactly how does that prevent accidents?
 
Reba said:
Do doctors ask kids if their parents leave household cleaners in their reach?

Is the kid a patient or a snitch? Is the kid even a reliable reporter of what is in the family home? Maybe he doesn't know what the parents have, or maybe he thinks he'll get them in trouble.


Do you really believe a doctor's question will prevent children from being killed by their parents' guns?
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Doctors, and any medical care provider, is mandated by law to report any situation that creates an environment of possible harm to the child by law. To fail to do so leaves them open to the possiblity of license revocation and jail time.

I personally,have reported an incident involving a firearm that was disclosed to me to children's services. The children were at risk due to that particular environment, and I am obligated by law to report it to the authorities, and then the authorities handle it as they see fit.
 
Reba said:
That's why I don't like to see a blanket law against a doctor asking that question if he has a specific reason to ask it of a specific patient, as in a suicidal patient.

But I don't see any reason to make it a standard question to be asked of each patient.
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I don't think it was a standard question to be asked. I believe it's more like suspecting something that one may be suicidal.

However, after liaising with the Florida Medical Association, the charge was reduced, and doctors can ask the question if they feel their patient is in danger.
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Reba said:
Every hazard? How many hours does the doctor have for this questioning of each patient?

Ah, "duly noted in the medical records." Ah, another notation about so-and-so on file. :hmm: Exactly how does that prevent accidents?
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It doesn't prevent them all. If it prevents one, it is worthwhile. It is one less dead child from an accidental shooting.
 
Jiro said:
I don't think it was a standard question to be asked. I believe it's more like suspecting something that one may be suicidal.
Click to expand...

Or that the children may be at risk.
 
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