fix
Member
Under HIPAA regulations I'd damn well better know where that information goes.
Guess what the doctor asked me...
- Thread starter Partisan Ranger
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Under HIPAA regulations I'd damn well better know where that information goes.
Hot brass
Member
My reply would have been, what does guns have to do with this?
And its not your buisness.
And its not your buisness.
cdbeaver
Member
Like some of the other posters on this thread, my family physician is firearms friendly. No . . . he's a dedicated gun nut.
Last time I visited his office he whipped out a .500 S&W cartridge and asked, "Have you ever seen one of these?" I hadn't, most especially in a doctor's office.
Every time I see him (medically), he has to tell my about his latest hunting or fishing experience. He was delighted to inform me that in two days he and his shooting partner had popped more than 600 primers while on a prairie dog hunting excursion.
I really like the guy.
Last time I visited his office he whipped out a .500 S&W cartridge and asked, "Have you ever seen one of these?" I hadn't, most especially in a doctor's office.
Every time I see him (medically), he has to tell my about his latest hunting or fishing experience. He was delighted to inform me that in two days he and his shooting partner had popped more than 600 primers while on a prairie dog hunting excursion.
I really like the guy.
I've never been asked that question, and wouldn't respond if I was. I have my blood lead levels tested as part of my annual physical, so my primary care doc knows I'm into firearms. But, he's also a shooter and hunter. The office phlebotomist's mother was a competitive skeet shooter and served as an subject editor for some gun-related publication, so she and I usually talk abt shooting while she's taking blood for various lab tests. My optometrist and optician are both shooters, as well.
rangerbill
Member
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- 52
that question always comes up...
at the kids doctors interviews. i have the wife to just say "no we don't have any"
on a side note
theres a question about do you use well water or city water?" i told her if any one asks to tell them its city water. (there's some sort of a silly regulation about kids drinking well water) anyway wife gets all these coached answers mixed up and says "well water"
she realized she has goofed after she said it. next question is "is it floridated?" wife who doesn't know just blurted out "yes" because it sounded right. They accepted that and never said anything about it. just shows them people don't know what they're even asking.
i always figured if they came back on it i'd tell'em i installed a floridator on the well.
at the kids doctors interviews. i have the wife to just say "no we don't have any"
on a side note
theres a question about do you use well water or city water?" i told her if any one asks to tell them its city water. (there's some sort of a silly regulation about kids drinking well water) anyway wife gets all these coached answers mixed up and says "well water"she realized she has goofed after she said it. next question is "is it floridated?"
wife who doesn't know just blurted out "yes" because it sounded right. They accepted that and never said anything about it. just shows them people don't know what they're even asking.i always figured if they came back on it i'd tell'em i installed a floridator on the well.
Kentucky Rifle
Member In Memoriam
My doctor is a shooter. He wouldn't allow a question like this to be asked in his office. He's also a buddy. He told me that there are several areas where AMA membership is mandatory. The way he explained it to me is that the AMA has recommended these "guideline questions". He's not a member of the AMA.
(Sheesh! Can't the "Libs" find another trumped up issue to exploit? This one is getting a little long in the tooth.)
KR
(Sheesh! Can't the "Libs" find another trumped up issue to exploit?
This one is getting a little long in the tooth.)KR
matis
Member
AT my last doctors visit (he's a gun person, too) the form asked my race.
I wrote "Martian".
Did the same at the outpatient surgery.
It spread through the staff at both places and when my doc (friend) telephoned me for something, he mentioned this as well. I had fun.
I know why they ask, but I think it's no business of theirs what my race is.
matis
I wrote "Martian".
Did the same at the outpatient surgery.
It spread through the staff at both places and when my doc (friend) telephoned me for something, he mentioned this as well. I had fun.
I know why they ask, but I think it's no business of theirs what my race is.
matis
The AMA and the medical community in general need to clean up their act before they even think about firearms issues or anything else.
90,000 people die each year because of medical misadventures. And, about 2 million come down with infections in hospitals, some of these infections are caused by antibiotic immune germs. Many of these infections are spread from patient to patient by doctors and other medical staff who practice poor patient handling hygiene.
There are actually some valid reasons why malpractice insurance is so high.
90,000 people die each year because of medical misadventures. And, about 2 million come down with infections in hospitals, some of these infections are caused by antibiotic immune germs. Many of these infections are spread from patient to patient by doctors and other medical staff who practice poor patient handling hygiene.
There are actually some valid reasons why malpractice insurance is so high.
It is interesting how quickly all of you will jump on physicians as a group. Just as you cannot judge a group of people by one person's actions, you should not judge the medical profession by one doctor's line of questioning.
As a physician, nothing suprises me. Perhaps the physician had a prior experience with a patient that left loaded firearms around his young children and needed education. It may or may not be her right to ask the question, and if you have a problem with it just don't answer, it is as simple as that.
As far as this "boundary violation" BS, it wouldn't do a damn thing to change how I acted or what I asked a patient. 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. People sometimes get offended by anything no matter what you say.
Walk a mile in a man's (or woman's) shoes before you judge him (or her). Especially before you judge a whole profession. A lot of us are certified gun nuts (well, not enough in my mind, but oh well).
Greg
As a physician, nothing suprises me. Perhaps the physician had a prior experience with a patient that left loaded firearms around his young children and needed education. It may or may not be her right to ask the question, and if you have a problem with it just don't answer, it is as simple as that.
As far as this "boundary violation" BS, it wouldn't do a damn thing to change how I acted or what I asked a patient. 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. People sometimes get offended by anything no matter what you say.
Walk a mile in a man's (or woman's) shoes before you judge him (or her). Especially before you judge a whole profession. A lot of us are certified gun nuts (well, not enough in my mind, but oh well).
Greg
Andrew Rothman
Member
Good goin', smart aleck.
There are multiple reasons to ask for the information.
* It helps in collecting aggregate information about the care of people, to help identify race-based problems in the system.
* Your race is directly related to your risk for certain diseases and conditions.
* Blacks are at a higher risk of high blood pressure, sickle cell anemia, and other conditions.
* Asians boys can be susceptible to Kawasaki's.
* Sephardic Jews get Familial Mediterranean Fever.
* Cystic fibrosis is a common genetic disorder in people of northern European descent, but far less so in Africans.
(Here's a fascinating story: http://www.post-gazette.com/healthscience/20020507hgene0507p3.asp )
keyhole
Member
Maybe not tell them I have any guns, just hundreds of knives!
And a swimmin pool without a fence!
More of their business.
goober
I will have to agree with you partially regarding dr's. Not all have bad intentions, and several I know belong to the local gun range.
And a swimmin pool without a fence!
More of their business.
goober
I will have to agree with you partially regarding dr's. Not all have bad intentions, and several I know belong to the local gun range.
Moondancer
Member
I've never been asked, but I think my first response would be a simple "I don't see how that has anything to do with what I am paying you to do, so just cross it off your list and forget it."
Note the use of the words "... I am paying you to do...". He/she is a supplier, not a customer and I choose what I willing to tell him/her. I've had to do this with a couple Dr.'s in the past, and I no longer take my business to them.
Note the use of the words "... I am paying you to do...". He/she is a supplier, not a customer and I choose what I willing to tell him/her. I've had to do this with a couple Dr.'s in the past, and I no longer take my business to them.
Spackler
Member
If you read back through the posts, you'll find that not "all of us" did.
Dr. Greg: (Goober)
You might find it interesting to read about the background of this. I suggest Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership. In fact, if you are a shooter, I suggest you join.
http://www.dsgl.org/BVD.htm
I can guarantee I would not only MENTION "boundry violation," but I would file a formal complaint to whatever the state medical board is about it.
Doctors are easy to find. There's another one just around the corner.
Do the research. This has nothing to do with health care. I have talked with Dr. Tim Wheeler (DRGO) at length on this. He would be happy to fill you in. We need more doctors (like you?) who can speak out on this issue.
You might find it interesting to read about the background of this. I suggest Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership. In fact, if you are a shooter, I suggest you join.
http://www.dsgl.org/BVD.htm
I can guarantee I would not only MENTION "boundry violation," but I would file a formal complaint to whatever the state medical board is about it.
Doctors are easy to find. There's another one just around the corner.
Do the research. This has nothing to do with health care. I have talked with Dr. Tim Wheeler (DRGO) at length on this. He would be happy to fill you in. We need more doctors (like you?) who can speak out on this issue.
XavierBreath
Member
I just wanted to add, as a patient you are free to refuse to answer any question you like. There is no need to get confrontational, remain cordial, and simply say you refuse to answer that question. As a Registered Nurse, I am required to ask some questions that are somewhat uncomfortable for me to ask. Medicare and insurance companies require medical professionals to ask all kinds of irrelevant questions (at least irrelevant regarding their medical care). I explain to a patient that they have a total right to refuse to answer such questions, and that it will not impact their care before I ask them. Asserting your right to refuse to answer such a question should not affect your care. Becoming confrontational and alienating your physician might affect your care though. Simply refuse to answer.
Keep in mind also that the information is likely used for statistics as much as anything else. The more gun owners who answer this question in the affirmative, and who do NOT have accidental firearms deaths in their families, the better all gun owners look statisically. It also gives us a much broader power base politically. Just something to think about. It's also fine to ask how the information will be used, and who is asking for it as well. The main point though, is that your medical care will not be diminished if you simply refuse to answer.
For the record, this is a question that I do NOT think a patient should be asked. I may still be required someday to ask it, but I will preface it with a reminder to the patients of their right to refuse to answer.
Keep in mind also that the information is likely used for statistics as much as anything else. The more gun owners who answer this question in the affirmative, and who do NOT have accidental firearms deaths in their families, the better all gun owners look statisically. It also gives us a much broader power base politically. Just something to think about. It's also fine to ask how the information will be used, and who is asking for it as well. The main point though, is that your medical care will not be diminished if you simply refuse to answer.
For the record, this is a question that I do NOT think a patient should be asked. I may still be required someday to ask it, but I will preface it with a reminder to the patients of their right to refuse to answer.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
My reply would have been, "No mam, just the one I got
on me, and oh yes its locked up".
I bet that would have gotten a stare!
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
on me, and oh yes its locked up".
I bet that would have gotten a stare! Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
Do NOT refuse to answer!
PLEASE! Stop and think about this.
This question is political, not medical.
It is not required by any law nor any insurance I know of.
It is suggested by the AMA, which is a totally anti-gun organization.
The only way we can stop this practice is to always, every time, make a big deal of it.
The doctor CHOSES to ask the question. He or she can darn well choose not to, and I think it is our duty to push them in that direction.
Next, it will be questions about how many guns, what calibers, any "junk guns?", any "assault weapons", did you buy any without getting the government's permission (private sale), etc.
The answer should be, "Doctor, I think that is not only none of your business, but I think that asking it invades my privacy and forces your political agenda upon me and my family. I think it's a boundary violation, and I intend to inquire of the state medical board whether it agrees with me. I value your services, but this is an important issue to me, and I would rerquest that you no longer ask me or any other patient about our firearms ownership. The examination room is no place for gun control politics."
If you won't do that, then what the hell are you good for?
By the way, do you know your doctor's first name?
PLEASE! Stop and think about this.
This question is political, not medical.
It is not required by any law nor any insurance I know of.
It is suggested by the AMA, which is a totally anti-gun organization.
The only way we can stop this practice is to always, every time, make a big deal of it.
The doctor CHOSES to ask the question. He or she can darn well choose not to, and I think it is our duty to push them in that direction.
Next, it will be questions about how many guns, what calibers, any "junk guns?", any "assault weapons", did you buy any without getting the government's permission (private sale), etc.
The answer should be, "Doctor, I think that is not only none of your business, but I think that asking it invades my privacy and forces your political agenda upon me and my family. I think it's a boundary violation, and I intend to inquire of the state medical board whether it agrees with me. I value your services, but this is an important issue to me, and I would rerquest that you no longer ask me or any other patient about our firearms ownership. The examination room is no place for gun control politics."
If you won't do that, then what the hell are you good for?
By the way, do you know your doctor's first name?
XavierBreath
Member
Tom,
I understand what you are saying, I agree with you. However, some people may only have one or two doctors to choose from in a rural area, or need the services of a particular physician who is a provider on their health plan. To expect someone to throw their medical care to the winds to advance a pro-gun agenda by alienating their physician is asking a bit much.
A physician or a nurse is not supposed to let a confrontational patient affect their decision making, but the fact is, it often does. Refusing to answer this question allows the assessment to remain therapeutic. Neither an anti-gun or a pro-gun agenda has any place in a doctor's office or a medical assessment. It is imperative that a physician/patient relationship remain cordial. If the physician does not have enough integrity to keep the politics out of a patient/physician relationship, then the patient should remove the politics for their own benefit. Lets face it, some doctors are better than others, some surgeons have higher infection and mortality rates, and some are better diagnosticians. If I need medical care, I want the best doctor for the job that I can get, and I really don't care if he is pro-gun or not. I care whether I live, die, or become maimed for life. I'll worry about guns later.
I think it is safe to say that a pro-gun physician would not ask this question, and an anti-gun physician would definitely be alienated after you gave them an earful and threatened them professionally. You can always file a complaint AFTER you have recieved the care you need. I am not saying do nothing, just get the care you deserve first........... Think tactically.
I understand what you are saying, I agree with you. However, some people may only have one or two doctors to choose from in a rural area, or need the services of a particular physician who is a provider on their health plan. To expect someone to throw their medical care to the winds to advance a pro-gun agenda by alienating their physician is asking a bit much.
A physician or a nurse is not supposed to let a confrontational patient affect their decision making, but the fact is, it often does. Refusing to answer this question allows the assessment to remain therapeutic. Neither an anti-gun or a pro-gun agenda has any place in a doctor's office or a medical assessment. It is imperative that a physician/patient relationship remain cordial. If the physician does not have enough integrity to keep the politics out of a patient/physician relationship, then the patient should remove the politics for their own benefit. Lets face it, some doctors are better than others, some surgeons have higher infection and mortality rates, and some are better diagnosticians. If I need medical care, I want the best doctor for the job that I can get, and I really don't care if he is pro-gun or not. I care whether I live, die, or become maimed for life. I'll worry about guns later.
I think it is safe to say that a pro-gun physician would not ask this question, and an anti-gun physician would definitely be alienated after you gave them an earful and threatened them professionally. You can always file a complaint AFTER you have recieved the care you need. I am not saying do nothing, just get the care you deserve first........... Think tactically.
Sylvilagus Aquaticus
Member
Before I went back to diagnosing and riding herd on computers I worked in a neurooncology practice (brain cancer mostly). Our social worker affiliate ran afoul of the physicians once it was leared they were asking questions along this line. As a nurse I did probe (discreetly) into the patient's mental state as well as that of their family, but none of my patients was ever a risk for suicide or violence. There is a move afoot in the professional nursing schools as well as the medical community (read AMA) toward Social Activism, and that tends to disturb me...especially when it equates to nannyism.
You never know when you're going to end up as part of a study or focus group, I've found.
My current physician is mostly responsible for getting me interested in Mosin-Nagants more than anything. I tend to do my own diagnoses and tell him what I need. If I didn't, he'd be too busy talking about antique Russki rifles for me to get a good assessment done.
Regards,
Rabbit.
You never know when you're going to end up as part of a study or focus group, I've found.
My current physician is mostly responsible for getting me interested in Mosin-Nagants more than anything. I tend to do my own diagnoses and tell him what I need. If I didn't, he'd be too busy talking about antique Russki rifles for me to get a good assessment done.
Regards,
Rabbit.
- Joined
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I was never asked that by any doctor. If they did, I'm going to ask that they forego any lesson on firearm safety and stick with the medical issues like, why is my tongue blue and what are these green spots here and why do I see worms in my eyeballs and how come I wake up at night when it's only 9 a.m. in the morning?
justice4all
Member
I was asked about gun ownership at a routine physical a few years ago. My exact words were, "That's not anything you need to worry about." I was polite but firm, and the doctor moved on to medically relevant inquiries.
HABU
Member
I have never been asked this by a doctor. I asked my wife if she has, she answered no. I told her that if she ever was asked, she needed to say no. Says she: Why. They are locked up. I then explained to her that their agenda wasn't medical, but political, and read her a couple of paragraphes from the above article.
They are tightening the circle.
:banghead:
I then explained to her that their agenda wasn't medical, but political, and read her a couple of paragraphes from the above article.They are tightening the circle.
:banghead:Girlwithagun
Member
That question caught me off-guard at my son's last physical. I answered "yes" to having them in the house (truthful) and "yes" to them being locked away and unloaded (not so much).
It bothered me later that I didn't question why the information was needed and what would be done if I had answered honestly.
Seems like questionaires by hospitals etc. are becoming more and more invasive. It's like they are looking for reasons to take our kids/guns/rights away.
Guess I have to get used to saying "None of your buisness!"
It bothered me later that I didn't question why the information was needed and what would be done if I had answered honestly.
Seems like questionaires by hospitals etc. are becoming more and more invasive. It's like they are looking for reasons to take our kids/guns/rights away.
Guess I have to get used to saying "None of your buisness!"
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