OT: Asked if I had a gun in my home during physical.

[Starlette]

I'm not a happy camper today. I took the day off to take care of two doctor appointments. One was my annual physical, and the other had to be cancelled due to not having a referral (another story). Anyway, I'm greeted by the technician whose asking all kinds of questions 3 of which were rather strange:

1) Do I have a smoke alarm in my house? Answer: Yes
2) Do I have a carbon monoxide sensor in my house? Answer: No
3) Do I have a gun in my home? Answer: No

I told the technician I don't understand why I'm being asking about a gun that has nothing to do with why I'm there. Her remark was, "You don’t have to answer” which doesn’t sit very well with me. She also said, “We’re starting to ask that now.” I told her, “As far as I’m concerned that’s an infringement of my privacy rights.” End of discussion. Then my PCP arrives and I ask her about the gun question. She said, “It’s more directed towards those with small children. We really do need to rephrase that.”

You guys, I am NOT happy about this!!! Whether I own a gun or not what does that have to do with my health??? Again, it’s NONE of their business!!! If I did own one, what are they going to do/say about it??? Again, it’s an infringement of my privacy rights!!!

I’m asking for feedback and also want to know if any of you are being asked about having a gun in your home during your physical?

Starlette

[FatiguedMe]

I know here in NC they are asking if you feel safe and if anyone is hurting you.
It wouldn't bother me with the gun question. I can see where they are coming from, tired of having to treat and save children of careless " ADULTS" Many times losing a very precious child because of someone elses stupidity.
To me this is just a sign of the changing times.
I am curious to see if this comes up at my next physical.
Susan

[jbn3boys]

I was asked that when my children were little at THEIR annual well-child check ups. When I answered yes, they simply asked if I was aware that they should be locked and ammunition stored separately (basic safety information). I think the doc even told me one time that they could provide gun locks if we needed them.

I've never heard of an adult being asked. I wonder if the technician was new and asked the wrong set of questions.

[Sheriff Buford]

They don't ask me... they see it on my hip...

[jimnsc]

I would have to have some fun with the gun question - I would reply, "Usually, when I am at home but right now I have it on me as I am licensed to carry a concealed weapon."

[Slartybartfast]

The AMA and the AAP American Ass'n of Pediatrics both have long standing policies favoring gun control. Read the following near the bottom:

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/0 ... sa0131.htm

And here's one written by an M.D., editor of the Journal of Ass'n of American Physicians and Sturgeons. http://www.haciendapub.com/gunpage7.html
A breath of fresh air.

[lars4life]

.

[Goofproof]

The whole idea is formed around, the Gov wants to find out where all guns are. They need that info so they can take control of the population. The last thing a corrupt gov wants is the population to have a means to rebel against a corrupt Gov.

Here is a little know factoid: If you have a carry permit and visit a V.A. location, guns are not allowed. If you secure your gun in your vehicle on their property, the gun can be taken, and you will be charged in court. You also sometimes are ask questions leading to your state of mind, if you answer the wrong way, you can be turned into Homeland Security, and will have your carry permit voided.

Many may say that's fine, it's to protect the public. Not so, it's to make the public easier to control. Jim

[Goofproof]

I’m asking for feedback and also want to know if any of you are being asked about having a gun in your home during your physical?

Starlette

You should have answered NO, but if it will make me healthier, I'll get two. Jim

[BlackSpinner]

Do they also want to know about the vibrators, hand cuffs and whips?

[archangle]

The order of the questions you were asked is interesting. It shows some interesting psychological manipulation. It's like the dirty tricks that cops will use on people. Ask you a few improper but innocuous personal questions, then hit you with the big one. If you answer the innocuous question, they trick you into being comfortable with answering improper questions. Then if you refuse to answer the gun question or react, they assume you do have a gun in the house. Or record in your medical record that you seem to be paranoid about firearms.

We should probably take this as a warning in the future. When a medical person asks you an irrelevant personal question, like the smoke alarm question, just tell them to skip the personal questions and stick to medical questions. "Sorry, I value my privacy to much to give out private information unnecessarily for you to record in your database. You can hand me home safety literature on the way out if you want to."

Don't forget the government wants to own your medical records in the future and make all the records electronic.

Someone should forward this to the NRA.

[BernieRay]

CDC added ammo to the AMA's cause a few years ago when they labeled gun crime as an epidemic. I'm surprised they haven't declared breathing an epidemic as well given all those nasty pollutants and green house gases.

Do they also want to know about the vibrators, hand cuffs and whips?

ROTFLMAO!

[msradar65]

I think this is a very normal question. I have been asked this question for years at my annual physical. Not a big deal. They collect their demographic info.

Its more so a safety thing.

[purple]

I bet the question comes from either some state law about - institutional question. The clinic hospital gets state funds so they are supposed to ask some weird question that in effect, makes no sense. The bad guy who has a gun in his pocket will say no, he does not have any gun. Not on him or at home.

Might be from the insurance company. They want to include that in with statistics and someday say the people who have guns are more likely to have increased insurance costs from -- cancer ? also gunshots, so they have another reason to raise rates.

It might be like tobacco, in that, tobacco seems to kill more non-smokers than smokers, so no one should smoke. Which seems to contradict itself. If smoking is bad, then smokers should die more often than non-smokers. Even smokers admit that smoking is bad for ones health. Just who gets the insurance bill.

To me it is always the government acting more stupid than cleverly (manipulative, paranoia), or follow the money.

[archangle]

I think this is a very normal question. I have been asked this question for years at my annual physical. Not a big deal. They collect their demographic info.

Its more so a safety thing.

I usually lie about unnecessary demographic info in order to mess up the databases. If I'm shopping for a hard disk and they ask me about age, sex, etc., I'm an 85 year old Asian woman who weighs 93 pounds, stands 6' 8" high, with red hair, $6,000 yearly income, drive a red Testarossa, etc.

I don't lie to the doctor, though, especially about anything medically relevant. I am probably going to stop answering anything not directly medically relevant, though.