Guess what the doctor asked me...

[RR]

tripleevil posted that as a "new" MD, he asks his patients if they wear a seatbelt, asks them if they own guns.

Why? He is concerned for their safety.

He then refers to "charting" the responses!

Those charts are not "private." They are accessed by your health insurance carrier and your homeowners insurance carrier. If you are involved in any type of lawsuit, including one resulting from an auto accident and even a divorce, they are read by guardian ad litems, claims agents, adjusters, secretaries, lawyers, judges, paralegals, clerks in the courthouse, RN's, LPNs, CNAs, receptionists, police officers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers.

I have witnessed the use of medical records documenting a postive response to firearms ownership, seat belt use, smoking, how much you drink...all used against the "patient" in the legal system.

tripleevil may not have an "agenda" in mind when he asks his questions, but those who will read his charting do. What is sad is that I fear his attitude is shared by many of his generation. What is even more sad is that tripleevil is clueless as to the ramifications of what he puts in his "charts."

 

[cedarsavage]

I fill out a "means questionaire" yearly for VA. The other side of the form is an application for care/treatment (IIRC). One of the questions asks what is your religion.

Probably a trick question. If you are dumb enough to answer you would probably allow yourself to be included in a "study group".

taa, cs

 

[NorthernExtreme]

I was asked once, I immediatly asked him if he had quit beating his wife?

You should have seen his face. First he started to say yes, then tried to say no, then he looked at me and asked, [Why I would even ask such a question]. My response was, " Funny, because I was just wondering the same thing about what you asked me."

He didn't ask any more questions.

 

[Billmanweh]

I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday, I think I'm going to ask her what's up with this question.

Just seems like a really odd thing for your doctor to ask.

 

[RSKING45]

I would have asked her a question or two that more that likely gotton my butt kicked right out the door.
Here a good one,my wife went on a job interview a while back,she was asked if was married,how many kids if any,we have 4 and the next question she was asked "are they all from the same father" I was suprised that my wife didnt repeatedly slap the face of the bitch that said that. Can you guess where her interview was??????? A hosptial shes a nurse
How ya like that one
Rich

 

[TheOtherOne]

Your response to the question should have been:

"I have 53 guns, I keep them all loaded at all times, they all have names and I tuck each of them into bed with me every night."

 

[aerod1]

Well my doc is a hunter and he also has guns in the house. We talk hunting and shooting regularly as well as health issues.
He has never asked that question because he already knows the answer.

Jim Hall

 

[RSKING45]

I am not sure about are family DR never really had a conversation with him about guns,but I did have one with our eye DR. Getting alittle off the DR subject, our judge who approves our pistol permits and also signs the paper work we need to purchase a new handgun is really into shooting sports.I seen him at the range a couple af weeks ago and he hade a nice collection of rifles with him.

 

[Hillman]

He has never asked that question because he already knows the answer.

... and has probably already indicated so on the form

A lot of comments have been made about hunting with your doctor.

Keep in mind a lot (that's about as scientific as I can get) of hunters do not understand 2A concepts. As long as government regs do not affect hunting, they could care less.

 

[Blackcloud6]

As long as I know that I am not stepping outside the bounds I need to practice medicine, you can say anything you want to.

And so can I!

 

[Round Gun Shooter]

Sarcasm Mode

I went to my Auto repairman yesterday. While asking me the problem with my car he asked if I used and owned firearms. It is needed information to properly repair my door locks

When I left him, I went to the brake shop. They asked if I used used or owned firearms. They could adjust the breaks so they would not slide off the seat

I then went to the car wash. They asked the same question as they could make sure there were no trunk leaks that would make my guns get wet

Then I took my dog to the Vet, Vet asked if I had guns in the house and if they were locked up so the Corgi couldn't hurt herself. The Corgi just looked at the Vet and said "Huh???"



Last stop was the restaurant They asked too as they could supply a larger napkin to cover my thunderwear

In all cases it would be the same answer I would give a prying doctor. Do your job and let me worry about what I own or do not own. All questions on a doctors form unrelated to my immediate problem are left blank.

Doctors are wonderful when you need them but they are no where near as important as they think they are.

Regards,

 

[riverdog]

tripleevil,

Whoa! It seems that there's some serious animosity towards doctors around here and some serious paranoia. Is seems that everyone thinks there are some sinister motives.

I usually just lurk around here but I figure I'd weigh in and go out on a limb - being a newly minted MD...

Do I ask my patients if they have guns?
Yes - but it's not a question in isolation - it's part of normal health screening. It's followed with questions about gun safety i.e. safely stored, lead exposure etc.

What's wrong with making sure that a fellow gun owner (or possesor) is taking it seriously and safely? Is it something that should be presumed?

I find it surprising on this board that so many people are against any PCP EVEN asking this question. Over and over again, the four rules are chanted. Fools at the range are not tolerated here and schooled frequently.

Follow this analogy if you will - I ask my patients if they wear their seat belts while driving. It may be none of my business but when they crash and I have to take care of their broken femur and try to coordinate their rehab, it becomes my business. Health care is not just about getting people healthy - it's also equally about keeping people healthy.

The patients I treat are probably much more high risk than any of you. I took a phone call from an freaking out mom last month (from the gun club) about her kid who shot a BB into his thumb after finding a gun and pulled the trigger trying to put it back on top of the fridge. Imagine if he found his gang-banger brother's 9mm.

Is it politically motivated? No. Do I do it to take away your evil AK-47's? No. Do I want to ferret out gun owners? No. Do I care if you own a gun or not? No.

Do I want to take care of your kid's colostomy after he finds your loaded .22 and shoots himself in the gut? Absolutely not.

If you don't want to answer the question - don't. Most MD's would be happy to chart one less thing.

Better yet - ask your doctor why (s)he's asking and use the opportunity to dispell some myths.


Evil

I have no animosity toward doctors, if I did I'd never see one again. However, the discussion of Boundary Violations on page one of this thread, and the political motivations of the AMA, AAP and ACP should give any pro-gun doctor pause as to what they are actually asking and "charting". I find "charting" particularly troubling if it is for any use outside the doctor's office. If the information is available to insurance companies or others outside the doctor's office, it isn't being treated as privilieged and where does that leave the doctor-patient relationship? Boundary Violation -- great term.

IMO these questions are out of line. It is none of your business if I wear my seat-belts or own guns. My drinking habits may be your business because it has a direct medical effect, I'll have to think abut that. But other indirect medical issues such as swimming pool ownership, speeding, seat belt use and whether or not I own a gun are NOYB. Firearms ownership is a political issue and the AMA et al are involved and have a political agenda not necessarily in the best interest of the nation's patients. If a doctor is a member of the AMA ... Boundary Violation.

Why not simply have brochure type information available in your lobby about the health risks asociated with shooting (eg., lead exposure, the Four Rules) and avoid violating any boundaries. Get some Eddie Eagle material and put that in your lobby for light reading while your patient's wait. Firearm ownership and storage is a personal decision, not for you or any other doctor to question, judge or "chart"...

Good thread.

 

[Gordy Wesen]

pretty smart observations..."I don't believe they have a right to know, so I have no obligation to answer truthfully.
Bob" and AJ with the BV. Great.

 

[Farmed Ship]

OK, some doctors are too ignorant to know what "boundary
violation" is.
But there is no sure way to expose the phonies than
talk about the pocket book.
==============
--Shaman: Do you have guns in your house?
--Patient: My consulting fees are $10/minute, in
10-minutes increments minimum. Your clock
has just started ticking. If you wish to continue,
proceed with your questions right ahead.
================
How many of the quacks would be willing
to pay real money for their feel-good political
leanings?

 

[FTG-05]

"When did doctors start butting their noses into guns in the house?"


Since idiots started answering the questions with yes!

 

[Amish_Bill]

.... take off your jacket or over-shirt to reveal an empty holster and say "No. Why do you ask?"

 

[Car Knocker]

Why an EMPTY holster?

 

[Amish_Bill]

Empty... thinking of hospital-type doctors where carry is frowned upon...
(flashing back to last time I saw a doc... pain so bad I was shivering - decided I was too incapacitated to carry)

 

[Car Knocker]

Well, I guess I really don't care whether a doctor frowns on my carrying or not, whether the doctor is in a hospital or a private office. It ain't none of his business. Fortunately, in Utah there aren't any laws regulating whether one can carry in a hospital or not, the sole exception being the secure area of a state hospital.

 

[Amish_Bill]

...also a bit of the one post where the guy's Doc looked at his empty holster and told him he didn't have to disarm...