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

[BernieRay]

Ooops!

Forgot Handout...

http://ccc.iccnetwork.org/Documents/The ... nglish.pdf

8 years old, and the only mention of guns is to keep them locked up - a good idea in some circumstances only.

[NotMuffy]

Ah. Somehow, it doesn't surprise me that superceded 12 year old recommendations are still being used. That, in and of itself, is a sad comment on medical care in the US.

Whatever happen to common sense? A lack of it seems to be at the root of a lot of crap these days.

Begging your pardon, but the OP's question was:

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

Clearly, the question on guns simply relates to counseling that could be beneficial to the patient and/or their family members, and not an attempt to create some sort of a secret database.

Although I would argue if they did think that, then perhaps that could be an issue unto itself.

[70sSanO]

I guess the question makes sense if it came from a DME.

I surely wouldn't want to pull a bait-and-switch and give crap to a patient if I knew that I would be dealing with someone who was going to be sleep deprived and packing when he/she came back to complain.

John

[John M. Browning]

I too, was asked that question (about whether I owned a gun). As I am a legal alien in the U.S. (not a citizen) and therefore not allowed to own a gun, to not answer or answer 'yes' could have me on the first flight back to Australia if 'big brother' was given my response.

I found the question unsettling, but responded (honestly - I hate guns) anyway in my own best interests.

Cheers,
xena

Actually, as a legal alien (green card) you CAN own a gun, and in most applicable states obtain a Carry Permit.

I never leave home without it myself...

[roster]

You should go read the article again. Physicians were refusing to treat patients who refused to answer whether or not they had guns in the home.

There is no evidence of even a single case of a physician dropping a patient for this reason, only a spurious comment by a Republican believing he is catering to a segment of his constituency:

Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, said constituents in his district also complained of being dropped by their physician when they declined to answer a question about whether they owned a gun.

Pure propoganda of the kind that the left also spews.

Besides that, except for emergency cases, doctors should (and do) have the right to refuse to see anyone they choose for any reason except those few expressly prohibited by law. It is their freedom to choose, just as it is my freedom to choose to have guns or not and to choose which doctor's services I use.

Besides, when NRA members reference "too many laws" they are referring to those that place restrictions on firearm ownership/RtC.

That may be the case for the knuckle-dragging segment of the NRA that doesn't care about the size of our federal and state codes and are single-issue voters. But the much larger segment of the NRA is very intelligent, very politically aware, and very concerned about the government's intrusion into many aspects of our life.

[M.D.Hosehead]

Clearly, the question on guns simply relates to counseling that could be beneficial to the patient and/or their family members, and not an attempt to create some sort of a secret database.

That's probably true. What the OP and I, and others, object to is the gratuitous personal intrusion.

The information is entered into a database. My health insurance companies have access to it. And data mining techniques can access it for purposes I haven't agreed to. I have no idea what the personal ramifications may be.

Lately, it seems almost daily I am made aware of some new scheme to garner personal information about me. Yesterday, it was this article about my iPhone making a permanent record of everywhere I go, information Apple can harvest anytime for any purpose, and is not obligated to keep confidential.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/20 ... vacy-fears

The day before, I learned that the "Readability" add-on I installed on my browser, tracks and reports everything I read online.

Both Apple and Google would like me to upload my personal schedule, to-do list, and contacts (including all of their phone numbers and email addresses without their consent), to their data clouds, to use for purposes Apple/Google don't have to reveal, and I or my friends might dislike.

We may still have a "right to privacy," but in practice, there's very little of it left.

[kempo]

This would be my reply.

"Yes, I have guns in my home. I ,along with everyone in my family, knows how to handle guns and we enjoy shooting them. As a matter of fact we are damn good at shooting pistols, rifles, and shotguns. It's a sport we enjoy doing together. "

"Next question sweety."

It's probably a bad idea to do that in the modern nanny state. You never know when some screwball medical type will put something in your medical records that will bite you in the rear at some time in the future.

If you want to cower in the shadows your whole life go ahead. I'm up front with everything I do. I always have and I always will. The PC crowd has taken control of this country and has turned the majority of our citizens in the compliant sheep. If something gets put in my medical records I'll deal with it. I refuse to live in fear just because I expressed myself.

[lars4life]

.

[NightMonkey]

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

... it’s an infringement of my privacy rights!!!

Another way to look at it is that they are going beyond the usual discussion to get the patient to think about his total health and safety. Should they ask about diet and exercise? Under your definition, wouldn't that be infringement of privacy rights?

I mean these people look at your ear wax, your nose hairs and boogs, the oyster in your throat, and stick their fingers up both chutes. Quite infringing wouldn't you say?

[So Well]

I mean these people look at your ear wax, your nose hairs and boogs, the oyster in your throat, and stick their fingers up both chutes. Quite infringing wouldn't you say?

Yes, after the doc checks for testicular tumors with his cold hands and checks the prostate size with a fat finger, I will answer any question about weapons he asks just to get the hell out of there.

[roster]

Some days I think of leaving the forum. But then a couple of posts like that come along and I am in for another couple of years.

[archangle]

The PC crowd has taken control of this country and has turned the majority of our citizens in the compliant sheep.

Not the PC crowd. That's the Apple crowd doing that.

[Knytrose]

I usually just lurk and read. But this one got me. I can't even think of anything witty or smart a**ed to say. I have several doctors I see - NONE have ever asked me those questions.

My first reaction to this post is - Excuse me? This is an annual physical. Why in heaven's name would someone be asking me this in a medical office? I don't see any reason they need to know if I have Any of those three things. I am normally an easy going person, but those types of questions do make me suspicious - are they working for the insurance company and trying to jack up my premiums? Or worse - are you trying to see if you can come by and rob me? (After all they do you have your address.) Was this a new doctor? Your first physical there?

And I agree - that type of questioning is very manipulative! The fact that the tech could only say 'we're starting to ask that question now' is not adequate. If you are asking me an invasive question, you need to be able to tell me why it is important that I answer it. I understand why some invasive medical questions and procedures are necessary. But this --- it is your annual physical. You're not there for treatment from a fire, CO poisoning or a gunshot wound --- why in the heck do you need to know this? And as my momma used to say 'Just because' isn't an answer!

My doctor can be personal all she wants. I've seen her for more than 12 years and we've built a trusting relationship. She can ask me how much I exercise, what I eat, if I'm taking my medication, if I'm having any unusual stress, etc., etc. But those questions would really make me wonder what the heck they are doing. And No I would not answer them!

I was raised in a home that had guns and was taught how and when to use them. I have handguns and long guns in my home. I raised my daughter to respect a gun for what it is - a weapon and a tool, just like a knife or a baseball bat for that matter. When she graduated from college her present from her father was her own 9mm. Before she moved into her own home and started law school, we made sure she took the concealed carry class and got her permit.

Do I have a gun in my house?? Hell yes!!

[Guest]

It seems to me that the appropriate answer to the question, irrespective of the truth, is "no."

[NotMuffy]

Well "IMHO", I find it a little ironic that when one first meets either a physician or a "gun nut" in a social setting, they both have this overwhelming need to work that little tidbit of information into the first 2 minutes of conversation somehow.