Doctors asking if there are guns in your home?

You have no legal obligation to answer that question. And frankly, if the doctor balks at your non-response, I'd look for a different doctor.

WRT eye doctors, I volunteered the information with mine because I wanted a "shooting" prescription, and was quite pleased with her because she accomodated me and it didn't seem to be an issue that raised any red flags.

The VA asked me when I was doing my post-retirement/disability dance. I told them no, its not really my thing any more. Just like parachuting, scuba diving, camping, hiking, etc.- the military pretty much burned me out on all that sort of stuff.

My experience mirrors #wiscoaster. I too talked to the eye doctor, and asked the cardiologist about rifle shooting with a pacemaker. VA Doctor has never inquired. IMO they may ask for the same reason they ask questions on mental health, feeling safe at home, falling down ect, ect.

I will suffer before I take a drug so I won’t be hallucinating or impaired or sleepy. That should be one of the main reason a doctor would ask if guns are in my home. I’ve told doctors a couple of times not to bother writing a prescription because I won’t take it. I look at check ups, blood work and other tests as valuable that might justify treatment or a change in lifestyle but all the new age drugs are the last resort IMO.

Anyone of questionable mental state that owns a gun is going to answer "NO!". The only purpose of a doctor asking if there are guns in the house is to check one of their CYA check boxes.

"Patient was asked if there are guns at their residence and patient answered no."

Howland937 said:

Did I miss the part where this quit being a thing?

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I don't think it was ever a requirement, was it?

Never had it happen here.

My Dr asked that. I asked What do you need?

They don't ask me that but they do ask if I am feeling depressed or if I have fallen recently.............

It's part of suicide prevention protocol. New patients are normally given a questionaire that asks an assortment of questions that could provide clues that someone is a potential suicide risk. I had that discussion with my current doc years ago. Hasn't come up again in years. Depending on how you answer those questions could lead to other questions and the doc possibly suggesting further assessment. There are lots of ways to kill yourself, but having access to a gun makes easier.

I talk to the eye doctor all the time about shooting. I work with him, and we both shoot. Haven't been asked by one in a long time, I think when I went on the pain med program (which I've been off for about ten years now) was the last time. They asked again after 3 months, as jmr40 says, because of possible suicidal ideation from the meds. I changed the subject.
FWIW, when the Dr. cut my pain meds off (without titration), I had two pistols loaded in my dresser drawer while I went through withdrawl. If I was not suicidal then, I doubt I ever will be.

I don’t know if I was ever asked....
But my doc has given me a bunch of spent brass, so I’m not too worried

My doctor has never asked me that.

I volunteer the info to my eye doctor for shooting glasses. Leads to prescriptions that cause the optometrist to do a double take.

My podiatrist asks about guns. Last time the conversation ran to the pros and cons of a 375 H&H for elk.

I’ve heard of it before, but I’ve never been personally asked that question. I also go to the doctor once every two or three years at most though.

While living in the Great Lakes area in 2012 I had a doctor ask me, I looked at him and said "Yeah" in a tone like that was a stupid question, and so what, and where is this going. He caught himself and said "Of course you have guns, you're from Texas". I definitely volunteer this info with eye Drs (optometrist & ophthalmologist) like many posting here. I don't recall any Drs in Texas asking me that question.

I was asked some years ago and my reply was "What does that have to do with me being here for a broken thumb doc?". Nothing else was ever said.

My kids doctor asks every single time. I always just say no. We do have the kids checked for lead exposure every year or 2 because I work in the automotive industry and contact lead pretty regularly (and I shoot and reload a lot), never had any elevated levels . I don't wear work clothes in the house and I keep all my reloading in the basement away from little hands.

Obturation said:

My kids doctor asks every single time. I always just say no. We do have the kids checked for lead exposure every year or 2 because I work in the automotive industry and contact lead pretty regularly (and I shoot and reload a lot), never had any elevated levels . I don't wear work clothes in the house and I keep all my reloading in the basement away from little hands.

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My kid's doc (a group of about 8 docs) asked once. She said yes before I could stop her. I told her that we don't discuss family security with strangers and that, in the future, the answer to that question is to be "None of your business". The doc started in with his speech and I told him to shut up and do his job. He continued and I had to tell him to shut up again. We had a more professional doc by the following week.

My doctor likes Glocks

Not a doctor, but a Teacher.
Parent/teacher conference, and the new gal has questions and I did too...
"Were working on a village safty project with the kids, and were asking all the parents if they have guns in the home" as we moved from grades to projects
I told her "its was none of your business but owning guns is a Constitutional Right". as mildy as I could
She replied that her "students safety was her interest...."
"Good " I replied, "I hope you teach them gun safety, and if you need help with that, gimme a call"

" Oh,my, not at all, they need to learn to stay away from guns......so are you going to answer the question?" also said very mildly.

"I will, if youll tell me how much money you have, and who you voted for"

The silence was a good out, so I smiled, stood up and excused myself .....

No doctor has ever asked me such a question. My current doctor has one waiting room that is kid centric and there's a booklet there on child safety in general. It suggests that guns be locked up, a one line item. This does not offend me.

A former dentist expressed interest. He had antlers and whatnot from successful hunts in one of his office rooms. That was cool.