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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