doctors cannot ask about guns

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Banjo said:
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.
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Yep, in 48 states. I just googled. Interesting.
 
Banjo said:
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.
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Gunshot wounds have to be reported. Statistics are kept.
 
I wonder how many children get hurt or killed by common household items as opposed to gunshot wounds?
 
Beowulf said:
Yep, in 48 states. I just googled. Interesting.
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huh interesting. what are the 2 states that don't require reporting? I have a feeling that it's Alaska and Vermont.
 
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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Yes, I do. If I didn't I would not support their right to request certain information.

Are you more concerned about child deaths from firearms, or parents' rights to keep those firearms in a manner that puts a child at risk?

Snitch? How about a child who is taught to tell the truth?
 
Beowulf said:
I wonder how many children get hurt or killed by common household items as opposed to gunshot wounds?
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Don't have the exact figures, but I would venture to say it is much lower, as the vast majority of people are well educated regarding the risk. However, there are still those who consider a loaded gun in a closet to be sufficient storage to prevent a child getting ahold of it and accidentally shoothing themselves or another person.
 
jillio said:
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.
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Gun ownership, by itself, is not creating an environment of possible harm to children. If doctors here had to report every family that had a gun in the home, that's all they and the police would be doing all day long.

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.
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"Incident involving a firearm" and simply having guns in a home are not the same thing.
 
Jiro said:
how?

I mean - how does that lead to doctor asking patient if he/she has a gun?
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It would depend on the situation. I said, in a previous post, that I encountered such a situation in a counseling situation. I asked specifically, is the gun still in the home. I received a positive reply. I reported possible risk to the child. I determined possible risk based on the circumstances of the indivudual case.
 
jillio said:
It doesn't prevent them all. If it prevents one, it is worthwhile. It is one less dead child from an accidental shooting.
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Is there any proof that such questioning has prevented even one fatal shooting?
 
Reba said:
Gun ownership, by itself, is not creating an environment of possible harm to children. If doctors here had to report every family that had a gun in the home, that's all they and the police would be doing all day long.


"Incident involving a firearm" and simply having guns in a home are not the same thing.
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And you really think that pediatricians are asking every patient if there is a gun in the home. Please, Reba. Get real.

However, to restrict their ability to ask the question when it is deemed necessary based on individual circumstance is to put children at greater risk.
 
jillio said:
Yes, I do. If I didn't I would not support their right to request certain information.

Are you more concerned about child deaths from firearms, or parents' rights to keep those firearms in a manner that puts a child at risk?

Snitch? How about a child who is taught to tell the truth?
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but there has to be a "probable cause" for doctors to ask about gun. I think it is getting confusing in here.

When they say "doctors".... I'm assuming it's the doctors at hospital who treat injuries... not mental health professionals.
 
jillio said:
It would depend on the situation. I said, in a previous post, that I encountered such a situation in a counseling situation. I asked specifically, is the gun still in the home. I received a positive reply. I reported possible risk to the child. I determined possible risk based on the circumstances of the indivudual case.
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That's not the same as the doctor who routinely questions every patient about gun possession. Your example was a specific event. Like I posted, I'm not opposed to asking about guns if there is a relevant reason for a specific case.
 
Reba said:
That's not the same as the doctor who routinely questions every patient about gun possession. Your example was a specific event. Like I posted, I'm not opposed to asking about guns if there is a relevant reason for a specific case.
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I'm not opposed either if doctors have "probable cause" to ask about gun possession.
 
Jiro said:
but there has to be a "probable cause" for doctors to ask about gun. I think it is getting confusing in here.

When they say "doctors".... I'm assuming it's the doctors at hospital who treat injuries... not mental health professionals.
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And if doctor's are forbidden to ask about gun ownership, then they cannot ask even in the case of probable cause to ask.

No,they are talking about pediatricians, as well. Or general practitioners. And who are the two most responsible for the reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect? They have far more contact with children than do hospital personnel. As a matter of fact, someone who is responsible for harming their child often will not use hospital services because they know that suspicion must be reported.
 
Reba said:
That's not the same as the doctor who routinely questions every patient about gun possession. Your example was a specific event. Like I posted, I'm not opposed to asking about guns if there is a relevant reason for a specific case.
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What doctor routinely asks about gun ownership?
 
I guess in some areas, the right to own a gun is more important that a child's safety.:wave:
 
jillio said:
And if doctor's are forbidden to ask about gun ownership, then they cannot ask even in the case of probable cause to ask.

No,they are talking about pediatricians, as well. Or general practitioners. And who are the two most responsible for the reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect? They have far more contact with children than do hospital personnel. As a matter of fact, someone who is responsible for harming their child often will not use hospital services because they know that suspicion must be reported.
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child abuse/neglect? How does one do that with a gun? pistol-whipping?
 
Jiro said:
child abuse/neglect? How does one do that with a gun? pistol-whipping?
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Sweetie, leaving a loaded gun where a child can get ahold of it is not only neglect, it is child endangerment.
 
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