Doctors Are Asking About Guns
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September 23, 2020
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October 6, 2020
Staff at three New York area hospitals are beginning to ask the following question? “Do you have guns in your home”?
This according to a Newsday story is designed to “analyze patient’s risk for firearm injury”.
The program according to Newsday will be funded under a $1.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.
“Gun violence is a public health issue,” said Michael J. Dowling, president and chief executive at Northwell Health. “This is the health industry’s responsibility to talk about this and do something about it.”
This Newsday story is not the first example of doctors questioning firearms ownership. In fact, there is a growing trend toward medical professionals asking gun-related questions during visits.
A 2016 Washington Post story details a story about a Florida pediatrician that allegedly gave a mother of three an ultimatum during a visit.
According to the story, the pediatrician declined to treat her after she refused to tell him whether or not she owned a gun.
“I don’t tell them to get rid of the guns,” Chris Okonkwo, the pediatrician, told the Ocala Star Banner in 2010. Instead, Okonkwo said his goal is to provide advice, such as encouraging the parents of young children to keep guns locked in safes.
Doctors asking parents and children about firearms in the home has been slowly increasing around the nation for the last decade or so.
An article at the NRA-ILA sheds light on an event that happened in Chicago.
In the Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn, a family brought their 16-year-old son to Advocate Children’s Hospital for a tonsil infection. While taking the son’s medical history, the doctor asked the parents to step out of the room. Then the doctor asked the teenager if there were any guns in his home. (John Kass, “Doctor Probes Teen On Guns In The Home,” Chicago Tribune, Jan. 23, 2013.) Although the family does not own firearms, the mother was furious at the invasion of privacy. After all, her son was not there because of suicidal risk or other psychiatric issues.
The article noted gun owners should be prepared for such questions when dealing with medical professionals.
How do you feel about doctors asking about guns in the home?
Post your comments below.
TF&G Staff
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14 Comments
It is absolutely none of their business! This all started back during the Obama accidental administration. I had a question on paperwork on one doctor visit during his tenure, but haven’t seen any reference to it since.
As a physician, I began asking about guns 15 or more years ago. The concern was safety. I encouraged parents to purchase a gun safe before they purchased a gun to prevent theft, and to keep the guns safe from young children. I also encouraged them to have trigger locks on each gun for additional safety.
Not your concern. Treat the patient for what they are there for. That’s your job. Probably being paid to report who owns guns.
Only problem with trigger locks is the gun is not available in case of need
You need to concentrate on mental health issues
so when I need it I will have to tell the thief to wait because my Gun is locked up give me a few mins.
That is not your job!!! You’re a physician/Doctor, not a home “safety” professional! Asking kids especially about guns in the home is underhanded and devious.
Gun safes(biometric/Keyed) and trigger locks are how people die in home invasions!
It is no one’s business but our own if we own one gun or one hundred guns! As a physician, your job is to treat the illness or the injury, not to lecture anyone on how to own or operate a weapon!! I would be more than offended and would file a complaint for invasion of privacy.
Why don’t they ask if they or their parents text while driving??? Way more dangerous!!!! I have no problem with anyone…including doctors, to provide encouragement for safe gun ownership. Maybe a part of their standard handout material. But to ask a child behind the parents back is not acceptable
Would a doctor ask if there are knives or razorblades in the home? Would a doctor asked if there was a rope in the garage? Would a doctor ask if you had a gas oven or bleach and ammonia? The answer no. This is just another attempt at overreach from the anti second ammendment left to take away our constitutional right in the name of safety or suicide prevention, and it is No ones business if I have firearms in my home.
If they really care about safety, there’s way more dangerous activities
They could ask about,,,,prescription drugs laying around , alcohol abuse
And availability , texting while driving , eating too much sugar and obesity..
This is a thinly disguised attack on our second amendment rights !!! Not privilege
—— RIGHTS !
Thanks Dr. Clements for speaking the truth.
I have been a physician in the state of TX for 30 years. Physical safety of our children is an important issue. To raise awareness about reducing daily risks to physical harm, I’m in favor of some entity making brochures available in pediatrician’s offices that highlight the dangers of cycling, swimming pools, beaches, toxic home chemicals, riding in a vehicle, accessible knives, and accessible firearms. The brochure could give information about reducing risks for all of the risks identified, and the nurse or physician could provide it to the parents, and then document on each visit that the parents were counseled regarding home safety. NO specific questions about whether you do or don’t own guns, knives, or bicycles. This could be produced and made available throughout the State, say from the Texas State Rifle Association (without boldly advertising the TSRA). I think something like this would been seen positively by the public, and as a responsible action by those of us that support private gun ownership.
Whatever happened to that thing that most people used to have. What was it called? Oh that’s right, it’s called common sense.
Why are so many new laws being created? Let nature take its course, and leave people alone. Everything is not preventable. Accidents and bad things will always happen. That’s reality. Deal with it.