visit to Doctor

[Hunter8282]

Given the recent EOs, before the doc even says a word, I will ask him if he is for or against gun control.

If he is "for" I'll grab my coat and go find another doctor.

 

[bigggbbruce]

Why all the worry and snarky answers? Your doctor is not the police, just say "no" and move on down to the questions about smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, and so on.

Multiple choice questions. I got some wrong answers in school as well.

 

[Kid44]

I think I would look him, or her in the eye and ask "how many sex toys do you have in the house"?

 

[GerSan69]

None of mine have ever asked,but I'd still say no because it's irrelevant. There's no reason to tell them, but there's also no reason to worry about it. I pick my doctors based on their medical competence, not if they choose to ask a particular question.

 

[Smoke]

This is one of those questions where (IMO) any avoidance of the question will be taken as a yes. So, my default answer is no regardless. It's a lie but it's one I'm willing to tell in the interest of Opsec.

 

[Kevin J.]

When I am asked the big personal questions of do you have guns, do you drink, do you use recreations drugs? I just no, even though they know I am bs'ing on two out of three as I sit there in my SW, Jack Daniels or HD t-shirts, the base of my wardrobe.

 

[pharmer]

My doc is retiring so the "new guy" is getting used to me. The "new girl" at the office asked me to step up on the scale. Took my 6906 out of my waistband, put it on the chair and said "that's an extra 2 pounds." She didn't bat an eye. Joe

 

[AlHunt]

It's none of your medical providers business whether you own firearms and I'd tell them as much. I'd probably leave as soon as they asked, refuse to pay for the incomplete office visit and find a new doctor.

But then I'm a well known curmudgeon ...

 

[TAROMAN]

Do you have one to sell?

 

[Jdavis]

A firm "NO" is the proper response. I was asked this question some time ago by the nurse. After responding with a "NO", I asked why the question.
She simply replied that it was a form question that she is required to ask. She also told me that anything other than a "NO" was recorded as a "YES".
Skip the comments and say "NO" and let it pass.

 

[Smoke]

As someone else has said this topic comes up frequently and when it does I always get a kick out the folks that want to tell the Physician about what is or isn't his business.

As someone who worked in the medical field for about 6 years in and out of the Army let give you their perspective.

First, your opinion is irrelevant to the Doctor, he doesn't care. You aren't the smartest guy in the room he is, if you don't believe me ask him.

Second as for this thing about telling the Doctor that you'll take your business elsewhere, go right ahead.

One of the last Doctors I worked for (An Orthopedist) stayed double booked with a waiting list 6 weeks out for the entire time I worked for him. Go ahead find another Doc, he probably won't even notice you're gone.

As for the Doctor's assistant, who is probably the one that's actually filling out that form, unless you are the first appointment of the day he/she is probably 45 minutes behind by the time they gets to you. Her lunch is probably half eaten and getting cold at her desk (she probably only has time to grab literally A bite as she fills out charts anyway) and her supervisor is probably on her *** to turn the room as fast as she possibly can.

Long story short she don't care either and as soon as you start pontificating she's just going to mark "Yes" to shut you up and go on to the next question.

Bottom line just say "Yes" or "No" and get it over with

 

[Smoke]

My doc is retiring so the "new guy" is getting used to me. The "new girl" at the office asked me to step up on the scale. Took my 6906 out of my waistband, put it on the chair and said "that's an extra 2 pounds." She didn't bat an eye. Joe

I went to the gastro recently for the 10 year scope.When the girl asked me to step on the scale, it was heavy. I pulled my 6906 out of my waistband, set it on the counter, and it was 3 lb better. She didn't bat an eye. Joe

Someone doing that is the reason our local Concentra Urgent Care Clinics are posted. An armored car guard decided to disarm before stepping on the scale and then decided to clear the weapon for "safety's sake" instead of just leaving it in its retention holster on the counter right where he could see it.

Long story short, in the process of "clearing" the weapon he put one through the wall.

About a month later I went in for my yearly UA and as soon as I walked through the door (in uniform) they stopped me and without even questioning if I even was armed ordered me to return to my car and disarm.

 

[shawn mccarver]

What kind of answer will you give a doctor when he asks if you have a gun in the house? Had this happen several years ago with a new [to me] doctor. He visibly frowned when I told him "yes". Got to know him well over the past two years and he has never brought it up again. He has moved and now am looking for a new doctor. I live in the wild West and everybody has guns in the house and it isn't unusual to see open carry. What is my best response?

Answer: "Just out of curiosity, doctor, how is that relevant to my medical care?"

OR

Answer: "Like everyone else in the world, we have a couple of guns, but they are safely stored separate from the ammunition."

OR

Answer: "I decline to answer."

OR

Answer: "How about those ___ (here fill in the name of your favorite sports team)?

OR:

Answer: "Why do you need to know that?"

OR

Answer: "How many guns do you have in your house or office, doctor?"

OR

Answer: "Doctor, do you have a communicable disease?"

 

[JLM]

"A" gun? No..

 

[ameridaddy]

That came up on my first "free" Medicare physical. Doc is a personal friend, not anti-gun at all. When I questioned the need, he said I had to answer the questions and he had to record the answers as a matter of Federal law in order to use Medicare for a physical. I have trouble lying, so I declined the Medicare physical and have gone seven years without. I now get the equivalent of a physical in bits and pieces - take a look at this, I've been wheezing, maybe we're due for an EKG, etc. I have so many ailments that addressing each one piecemeal is more thorough in sum than a routine physical.
If my records were kept only on paper in the doc's office as they used to be, I'd be OK with anything he asked, but Feds now require computer based record keeping. Next step will be a full Fed snoop on the sly with cross-matching with other agencies, if they're not doing it already.

 

[bearman49709]

That came up on my first "free" Medicare physical. Doc is a personal friend, not anti-gun at all. When I questioned the need, he said I had to answer the questions and he had to record the answers as a matter of Federal law in order to use Medicare for a physical.

I have medicare and have had their physical, had orthopedic surgery and had my gall bladder removed. Three different DR's, three different offices and no one has ever asked if I have any guns.
The VA has never asked me ether.

 

[KSDeputy]

When my doctor asked me, I said none of your business. She knew I owned guns, and was a deputy sheriff. Medicare required this question be asked of medicare patients. It wasn't the physicians idea, and they would rather not ask it.

 

[pharmer]

Someone doing that is the reason our local Concentra Urgent Care Clinics are posted.

Dude, thanks for caring about my health history. Didn't notice my weapon lost a pound over the last few years. Can't imagine why anyone would clear a weapon to get on a scale though. Joe

 

[ameridaddy]

I have medicare and have had their physical, had orthopedic surgery and had my gall bladder removed. Three different DR's, three different offices and no one has ever asked if I have any guns.
The VA has never asked me ether.

It was my first one in early 2009. Doc didn't ask me on his own, but was reading from a Federal form printed on pink paper with all the questions listed, one after another. I haven't see one lately, so I don't know what the current procedure involves.

 

[Smoke]

Dude, thanks for caring about my health history. Didn't notice my weapon lost a pound over the last few years. Can't imagine why anyone would clear a weapon to get on a scale though. Joe

I merely quoted your words.

I agree that attempting to clear the weapon was unnecessary. I never would have bothered to take it off and if I had (as I said) I would have left it in its retention holster on the counter right where I could see it.

I used to work in that clinic so one of my coworkers gave me the scoop. She said the guy didn't seem all that intelligent (which I figured out when he unholstered unnecessarily in the clinic) deduct a couple pounds front the total and drive on