Florida, doctors, and guns.

[truckemup97]

Fla. bill would ban doctors from asking about guns - Florida Wires - MiamiHerald.com

The state of Florida is considering a ban on doctors asking about guns in the home. But what if that prohibits a proper diagnosis? Like lead poisoning in someone casting their own bullets? Or in the case of a suicidal teen? Or in the case of child/spousal abuse? One size rarely fits all....

 

[bk43]

Although I really enjoy our pro gun legislators, a little more focus is in order up there. I don't think that they are giving careful enough consideration to the unintended consequences of some of these proposals. This type of thing is like fresh red meat to the no appeasement, take no prisoners crowd but I have a hard time seeing anything positive coming from it.

Bob

 

[OKFC05]

You obviously have not had the pleasure of having your kids being considered "in danger and abused" because the MD reported you owned guns.

The is not a trivial matter and there is no good intent for this "find and report the guns" campaign being pushed by a group of liberal doctors.

It has zero to do with investigating lead poison and purely a "social activism" anti-gun campaign to harass and embarass gun owners.
Remember the groups throwing paint on hunters until a law provided a penalty for harassing hunters? Same idea.

 

[truckemup97]

OKFC05, I don't know what happened with you, your kids, and an MD. With all due respect, though, you can't simply deny doctors the ability to ask the question. There are medical reasons, in some circumstances, to ask if there are guns in the home. I do not think, however, that the question should be routine or part of an admissions form. There is a difference between activism and doing what is best for the patient.

 

[maryrose213]

I agree with truckemup97. Gun ownership should not be routinely discussed with a persons doctor. This would have to be subject to the doctors profession and would rather fall under a case by case situation where the doctor must explain the reasons behind its inquiry. I have been asked if I owned a gun in the past, and it was in my best interest not to lie. I was giving information to my son's therapist when the question arised.

 

[OKFC05]

Gun ownership should not be routinely discussed with a persons doctor

That's exactly the point of the proposed legislation. It does not ban discussing it if it is related to medical treatment.

What it does ban is the increasing practice by a group of activitist doctors of routinely screening patients for gun ownership when it is totally irrelevant to medical treatment.

"My cousin the plastic surgeon" received the mailing from this zealous group who are encouraging denying treatment to gun owners and falsely putting kids on an "at risk" list solely on the basis Dad takes them hunting. He thinks it unethical, but he knows doctors who are doing it.

We tend to trust our doctors and expect the best from them, and this anti-gun social activism--and outright lying on official forms--is wrong.

If the MDs won't follow their own ethics code, then a legislative remedy is warranted.

 

[maryrose213]

I think that we are all in agreement with the new ban.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I hope it includes the VA but I doubt it.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I think I understand the underlying issue, but if a private doctor wants to ask his patient(s) about guns in the home then I think that is something between the patient (or guardian of minor patient) and the doctor. If it was me, I'd say that's none of your business. If the doctor is being compelled to ask such questions via government strings attached to funding then I would support legislation to ban such requirements.

If a doctor wants to give advice about the dangers of firearms and a mentally ill child in the home, those lectures can be given absent any specific knowledge of guns in the home or not.

 

[Maximumbob54]

If a doctor see's lead in my blood test then he can ask me if I am exposing myself to any known lead sources. I might just be a plumber. If I'm asking for anti-depressants then he can set me up for some counseling or give me the suicide hotline number. If I'm acting all violent in the office then he can call the police. Diagnosis via asking if you have a gun is raising my shenanigans flag way high in the sky and making me dive once again for the tin foil hat. There is no valid reason I can think of to ask me if I have a gun other than, "Hey, would you like to go to the shooting range with me when we are done with this?"

 

[bk43]

What it does ban is the increasing practice by a group of activitist doctors of routinely screening patients for gun ownership when it is totally irrelevant to medical treatment.

"My cousin the plastic surgeon" received the mailing from this zealous group who are encouraging denying treatment to gun owners and falsely putting kids on an "at risk" list solely on the basis Dad takes them hunting. He thinks it unethical, but he knows doctors who are doing it.

We tend to trust our doctors and expect the best from them, and this anti-gun social activism--and outright lying on official forms--is wrong.

If the MDs won't follow their own ethics code, then a legislative remedy is warranted.

None of these is reality in Florida at this time and they are thus hypotheticals. Legislation based on what might happen doesn't seem productive and in this case the possibility of bad unintended consequences is a given IMHO.

Bob