Physician mortified when asked about CCW medical form.

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Depression, in the medical sense, is more severe than sadness. It's not simply being sad because a friend died or anything like that, but an all-around lack of motivation, joy, and self-esteem. It's generally more persistent than sadness caused by some external event.

Sorry for being pedantic, but a good friend of mine suffers from bipolar disorder. I don't like the implication that it's so trivial, though that may not have been what you meant.
I was just responding the post by crankyoldlady. I'll say it again, we don't know from the OP, what depression means. People use the term "depression" that has a wide range of meaning. I never want to trivialize this kind of thing. I know what depression (and psychiatric disorders) means in the medical sense. I dealt with these folks all the time, when I worked in the ER for several years.
 
CoRoMo said:
I've always heard that the medical records are the property of the Dr.'s office. That's why you can't simply walk in and ask for the file and walk out.

You can't simply walk in, ask for the file, and walk out, but legally you can walk in, ask for a copy of the file, wait for them to copy it, and walk out.

I am a medical secretary and handle requests for medical records every day. HIPAA allows records to be released to the patient or anyone we have a signed statement from the patient allowing the records to go to.
 
he octor opened hisself to trouble from the patient becuas he "doctor: stated there was nothing medical to prevnt the patient fromgetting CCW.
The doc said they don't do it at the office, but where is his wrtten guidelines saying they do not do that or is hi forcing his opinion on the OP?
 
Evidently your state has decided that part of the job of physicians in your state is to release the medical records for CCW permit applicees.

Your physician needs to be reminded of his job requirements.

Give him a copy of the relevant statute, and remind him of the penalty for ignoring the law.
 
I remember seeing a newsflash on CNN a couple of weeks ago that said most anti-depressants are no more effective than a simple sugar pill. I had to do some searching, but found this:

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0803/15/hcsg.01.html

Here is just a brief quote from the transcript:

Now antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. So we recently reported that researchers in the United Kingdom found anti-depressants didn't work any better than placebos unless you're severely depressed. It's a finding that could have some people questioning the efficacy of these popular medications.

I'm not trying to imply that some people do not need medication, but it seems to suggest that many are on medication that simply do not have a need for it. The reason I mention this has to do with future legislation that may give doctors the ability to deny 2A rights to people that are or have been medically treated for depression. But that could be a whole new topic by itself.
 
I've always heard that the medical records are the property of the Dr.'s office. That's why you can't simply walk in and ask for the file and walk out.

The information contained in the record is yours. You can't get the original, it is maintained by the doctor, but you can get a copy of anything you want.

So are you guys saying Louisiana requires a doctor to say you are fit to carry a gun? If so, what do people do who do not have a doctor?
 
I was just responding the post by crankyoldlady. I'll say it again, we don't know from the OP, what depression means. People use the term "depression" that has a wide range of meaning. I never want to trivialize this kind of thing. I know what depression (and psychiatric disorders) means in the medical sense. I dealt with these folks all the time, when I worked in the ER for several years.

Alright, my apologies then; you are correct.
 
If you answer "yes" to any of the medical questions on the ccw app they require the doc to sign off. You still release your records regardless for a ccw.

There is no such requirement for open carry.

I'm just gonna go to a different doctor,I got the feeling he doesn't like the idea of ANYONE having a concealed permit. As I said I'm not violent,homicidal,or suicidal, nor have I ever been and I have no criminal record to speak of (juvenile or otherwise). I think refusing to sign a piece of paper for me because "we don't do that" is utter horse puckey.
 
Time for a new doctor. Because doctors who would deny my rights... we just don't do that here.
+1

The form isn't asking for his political opinion, it's asking for his medical opinion about you. I'd take my business elsewhere.
 
What exactly is the doctor certifying when he "signs off" on the application? Is he saying you are physically and psychologically qualified to have a permit?

I would think that signing something like that would open the doctor up to potential litigation in the event he signed off on someone, and that person then killed someone.
 
Basically certifying that I am physically/psychologically capable of handling a firearm. They have to give details of your treatment/meds/etc. Basically asking the doctor if he thinks you will go on a shooting rampage.
 
Basically certifying that I am physically/psychologically capable of handling a firearm. They have to give details of your treatment/meds/etc. Basically asking the doctor if he thinks you will go on a shooting rampage.

I would love to see the actual wording of the certification. Does anyone have a copy. I am surprised you can find a doctor anywhere who would certify that you are capable of handling a firearm (how would he know?) and that you won't go on a shooting rampage.
 
Basically certifying that I am physically/psychologically capable of handling a firearm. They have to give details of your treatment/meds/etc. Basically asking the doctor if he thinks you will go on a shooting rampage.

Unless the relevant statutes provide the doctor immunity in the case he is mistaken, I don't blame him for not wanting to sign. Without such protection, can you imagine what would happen if he signed, someone killed, and the family sued? Millions, no doubt. And what of his license to practice medicine? prolly gone too..........

So yeah, if the law is asking the doc to look into his crystal ball and certify people safe with dangerous and deadly weapons, I can understand why he doesn't want to.
 
Warhawk83 -

Absolutely, new doctor time. That guy/gal has got a serious issue and is acting unethically. I went to medical school so I bloody well know how doctors are trained and how they are supposed to act, both within the constraints of the law and the legitimate needs of their patients. What you asked for was a Government required health statement to be made. His/her refusing to sign off on a legitimate medical statement is not just wrong, it's unethical.

I would do the following:

1) Got to the websites of Lousiana Carry (http://louisianacarry.org) and repeat the story there, find a doctor locally to you who will sign off from this for you.

2) If no luck there, also check out another LA site, Bayou Shooter.

3) Tell the doc's office you are switching and why. Let them know you are going to also mention this to the state medical board.

4) If he/she doesn't get apologetic to you, then DO report it to the state medical board. While it's not malpractice, these boards also track ethics and have to record and make record of all complaints.

I usually will defend doctors who have a difficult and poorly understood job from the public. But this person has confused their politics with the legitimate health needs of their patient. That's intolerable in my book.
 
Bouts of depression are often treated with medication. Many of these medications warn patients to be cautious while operating a motor vehicle or using heavy machinery. Psychotropic drugs can impair judgment.

Sorry, but I respect any physician who has concerns about a patient carrying loaded firearms who has a history of depressive episodes.
I thought the same thing when I read your post. If your doctor is treating you for the depression, that could be why he freaked out.
 
I don't know what to do. I don't want to open carry but I'm concerned that this quack will put something that will take my gun rights away period. I could tell from the look on his face that he has probably never even held a gun.
Yeah, time to find a new doctor. There are plenty of good doctors around.

Quote:
Originally Posted by crankyoldlady
Bouts of depression are often treated with medication. Many of these medications warn patients to be cautious while operating a motor vehicle or using heavy machinery. Psychotropic drugs can impair judgment.

Sorry, but I respect any physician who has concerns about a patient carrying loaded firearms who has a history of depressive episodes.

I thought the same thing when I read your post. If your doctor is treating you for the depression, that could be why he freaked out
Guys, you're in over your head here. Medications for depression don't cause people to flip out. They don't impair people like, say, alcohol does. Also, what the OP described as depression doesn't mean he shouldn't be able to possess a firearm. Depression DOES NOT always equal suicide, and CERTAINLY doesn't always (in fact usually not) involve homicide.
 
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An anti-gun attitude may be to blame or partly to blame, but the issues brought up by Balrog and MachIVshooter regarding potential liability would be very prominent in a physician's thoughts, I would expect. The physician is being asked by the state to "certify" that an individual is "safe" to carry a gun. This is an impossible expectation, of course, as nobody can predict another individuals future actions. I'd want to see if the statue provides immunity to the physician in the case that an individual he/she signed off on shoots somebody at some point in the future in a situation which is not deemed to be self-defense. If the statue provides immunity, then the physician in question can be faulted for his refusal to address this issue. If the statue provides no immunity for the physician, I cannot find fault in his reluctance to sign off as he is opening himself up to significant liability.
 
I agree, new doctor time. A weird thought just crossed my mind. You hear of drug abusers who go to multiple doctors to fill the same prescription? Having to go to medical doctors to get a release signed for CCW...

Luckily that is not necessary in my state, and I have had great conversations with my doc about guns. She CC's. All the time.

NVCZ
 
Quite a while back I had a doctor ask during a routine check up if I owned any guns. I told him that was totally irrelevant to the reason of my visit and on top of that it was none of his damned business. I changed doctors. Here in Washington State we have a decent shall issue policy for getting a CPL. Fingerprinting, your basic check for a criminal record and give them the money. The only time I can see where doctors should have an input to the process is if an applicant was found to be criminally insane, psychopathic, or some other mental disorder that would make him (or her) a danger to society. I know there are some folks that might think that's going too far, but it would be nice to know before a gun dealer sold a handgun, or long arm to a certifiable nut bag. That being said every healthy human being walking around in this great republic has had a down day, or month for that matter. Unless it renders them a danger to others why should it be part of the application process? However since it is I'd find me another doctor.
 
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yep, if you want the permit, you only have one choice, look for a different doctor. IF you know anyone that belongs to a gun club, you might ask them to ask around to see if any doctors belong to that club, and if so, make an apointment. doctor shopping really sucks, because it is like forrest gumps box of chocolates. you never know what you are going to get. there really aught to be a better way to screen doctors. they know who is good, who is a quack, and who has inclinations one way or another. but for us patients, all you get is a name in a phone book, with absoloutly no way what you are going to get. you wouldnt go into a meat market and ask for 30 pounds of meat, without knowing if you were going to get 30 pounds of pig snout, or 30 pounds of filet mingon would you? so why do we HAVE to do that with doctors?
 
HIPAA allows records to be released to the patient or anyone we have a signed statement from the patient allowing the records to go to.
I'm assuming that you mean a copy of the records could/would be released. That's the problem. Once something gets into those records that shouldn't be there, there is no way to acquire those records and destroy them.
The information contained in the record is yours.
If the contents were mine, I'd want the right to destroy those contents, but I can't.
 
If the contents were mine, I'd want the right to destroy those contents, but I can't.

No you can't destroy the records, even though they belong to you.
 
For anyone who has a problem with people who have a psychiatric disorder, no matter how severe, where does it say that they cannot own guns? In the Bill of RIghts it says all men are created equal.
 
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