netrox

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?!?!

Deafness

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Reba

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.

netrox

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.

Beowulf

Docs should ask if their kids juggle with knives and chainsaws.

Jiro

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.

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Reba

They should ask if their families keep dried beans at home. You never know when a kid will stick one up the nose.

Reba

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.

Beowulf

Or goldfish. My mind is reeling.

jillio

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.

Reba

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?

Banjo

This is some sort of bizarre type of Totalitarian.

jillio

In many cases, yes, they do. And the degree of risk to the child is duly noted in the medical records.

Reba

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?

Jiro

isn't it a law for doctor to report to police for ANY gun-related wound?

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Banjo

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.

Reba

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. Exactly how does that prevent accidents?

jillio

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.

Jiro

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.

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jillio

It doesn't prevent them all. If it prevents one, it is worthwhile. It is one less dead child from an accidental shooting.

jillio

Or that the children may be at risk.

Beowulf

Yep, in 48 states. I just googled. Interesting.

jillio

Gunshot wounds have to be reported. Statistics are kept.

Jiro

how?

I mean - how does that lead to doctor asking patient if he/she has a gun?

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Beowulf

I wonder how many children get hurt or killed by common household items as opposed to gunshot wounds?

Jiro

huh interesting. what are the 2 states that don't require reporting? I have a feeling that it's Alaska and Vermont.

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jillio

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?

jillio

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.

Reba

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.

jillio

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.

Reba

Is there any proof that such questioning has prevented even one fatal shooting?