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

I wouldn't be so paranoid about it - it turns out that depressed gun owners are much more likely to commit suicide than equally depressed non-gun owners ( nothing more than the fact that it is more immediately available if you've already got the means). It's not insignificant, it's the 10th or 11th leading cause of death in the USA

Good point, John.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm
Perspective is everything.
The scary thing is; I just realized how many of those link directly to untreated OSA.
We are back ON TOPIC!

Sleepytoo wrote: "We were asked by our physician before our son was born (nearly 15 years ago). "

A good friend of our family had his wife develop post-partem depression after the birth of their first child ( she was an RN ). she was home unable to return to work and under the care of a psychiatrist - I was with her at a wedding of one of his sisters and she seemed great - totally recovered - she hung herself from the front door a week later - her husband called his brother-in-law who lived nearby and was a cop while he was trying to resuscitate her on the couch - when the cop came in, he ignored them on the couch and ran to look for the baby who was fine ( apparently killing the infant is pretty common in these cases and he was familiar with it from his job - it seems the mother believes that she is protecting the baby from future suffering by killing it) - so I'm guessing that might be why they asked about a gun.

ems wrote:

ButtermilkBuoy wrote:I wonder if Adam Lanza's doctors asked Nancy if she had a gun in the home?

I understand your point.

Oh really? How do you do that since I never expressed a point?

They sometimes combine those questions with questions about depression or abusive behavior spaced out over the "interview". I usually just smile and say nothing or wave them off. If they persist I ask them what medical condition is affected by gun ownership or smoke detector placement. I told one obnoxious questioner that if he signed a form accepting financial liability in case of theft, I would answer that question. He changed his mind.

bilgerat57 wrote:They sometimes combine those questions with questions about depression or abusive behavior spaced out over the "interview". I usually just smile and say nothing or wave them off. If they persist I ask them what medical condition is affected by gun ownership or smoke detector placement. I told one obnoxious questioner that if he signed a form accepting financial liability in case of theft, I would answer that question. He changed his mind.

Undoubtedly because he could really care less if you blow your own head off or not.

I wonder what Nancy Lanza said...

bilgerat57 wrote:They sometimes combine those questions with questions about depression or abusive behavior spaced out over the "interview". I usually just smile and say nothing or wave them off. If they persist I ask them what medical condition is affected by gun ownership or smoke detector placement. I told one obnoxious questioner that if he signed a form accepting financial liability in case of theft, I would answer that question. He changed his mind.

Sorry to take this OT thread OT but the screening for depression by doctors is a hot button issue of mine. Many people end up on antidepressant withdrawal boards because their doctor medicated them for life issues that were misrepresented as depression and then had no clue as to how to get them off of the drug.

Back to the original OT

49er

JayR_1945 wrote:

Goofproof wrote:...... Jim

I am a Veteran and believe me we Veterans are concerned about the issue. The VA is a government building, and no guns are allowed. Not sure about a gun in a car. I think if you do something wrong and the car is searched, they can confiscate it. This is government property.
.....
But about asking about Veterans "state of mind", this is inaccurate. There was an issue a few years back where a Veteran could be put on the "No Fly, No guns" list if they were judged "mentally incompetent" by a physician. Well, Veterans had a fit. Since then a law was passed and it now requires a court order. This "due process" is as it should be. There are some people (Veteran or not) that should be on the list.
......

I have to backtrack on what I said. I thought the "Veterans and guns - due process" problem was solved but evidently it hasn't.

David Sherfinski
Change on veterans’ gun rights lights fire
Coburn wants decisions by judge rather than VA for impaired troops Washington
The Washington Times - Dec 3, 2012

From the article I'm not sure what the "as happens currently" is refering to. But I sure don't want the VA docs having the final say in who is on the No-Fly list or able to buy guns.

I am also a Navy Vet...
The VA is a very mixed bag of a few who really care, too many who could give a hoover and everything in between.

Back in the 80s I complained something was wrong so much they sent me to their SHRINKS, (thinking it was all in my head). The shrinks decided I was NOT nuts, not even depressed, just "adamant" something else was wrong and whatever it was did not show up on their testing. Do you think even one VA doc would follow-up? NO!

Fast forward to 2009, a new non-VA eye doc opened the MS can-o-worms noting my diplopia was strictly neuro-muscular and I needed to be seeing a neurologist. That started a whirlwind among my doctors and led to proper testing and work-up for MS. B.I.N.G.O!
I get OK MS care at the VA, but not much else. VA diabetes care is horrid, so is hypertension etc.

Their renal clinic and urology clinics are a bad JOKE where I am (some VA places are better) Renal clinic says if/when my eGFR dropped below 10 they might consider finding out WHY. Of course by then you would already on dialysis and useless to find our why!

Urology clinic, which I was also sent to twice by other VA docs was a total waste of time, gas and money. The first time they did nothing at all, and I do mean NOTHING they did not even know if I had a pulse or fever. The second time was more of the same. Then just over a week later I ended up at a nearby NON-VA hospital in need of emergency care for the same thing the VA refused to bother with.

No surprise that another vet in this area committed suicide by cop on Veterans Day due to problems getting care for multiple health issues.

I get asked those questions every time I take my children in for their annual physicals. I believe it is required of pediatricians and if your doctors office sees children under 18 as well as adults, they probably just ask everyone.

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!!!


This is not a infringement of your privacy rights. They are just asking a question and you don't have to answer. How is this infringing on your privacy and what right are you referring to?

Starlette wrote: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

in the context you described i would not find the questions offensive or inappropriate. you were there for a physical and part of a comprehensive health screening is to make sure your home is safe. that includes locking up your guns if you have them etc. i'm sure you do that any way but they probably ask everyone so they can give the safety lecture. i have young kids and at all their check ups their doctor asks me if our house is child proofed, if we use the car seats properly, etc. i don't see those as invading our privacy given the context of the situation. just my opinion

fm1520 wrote:

This is not a infringement of your privacy rights. They are just asking a question and you don't have to answer. How is this infringing on your privacy and what right are you referring to?

+1

It's so easy to refuse to answer (but a lot more fun to express righteous indignation in a forum).

Asking the question without requiring an answer, sounds more like a reminder;
still kind of gutless, when they have the opportunity to tell you WHY it is important,
or provide safety information or a source for affordable trigger locks.

chunkyfrog wrote:Asking the question without requiring an answer, sounds more like a reminder;
still kind of gutless, when they have the opportunity to tell you WHY it is important,
or provide safety information or a source for affordable trigger locks.

Now why in the world would they want to do that? It might take away from their bottom line.