I can’t believe a medical provider asked about guns in my house

[F Class John]

I don’t normally post stuff like this but my mother lives with us and during a recent follow up call from her medical provider they asked a number of questions that have now become pretty standard. Questions such as do you feel safe in the house, do you feel depressed or lonely but a new question that has been added is a very direct one asking if she owns a gun or has guns in the house. WTF business of it is theirs.

 

[Bill Norris]

EXACTLY. NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS WHATSOEVER.

 

[PhilKeil]

I hope you told them as much

 

[nmkid]

I get asked once in a while at the V.A. I just say nope.

 

[gdbleb]

It is a not so new attack vector. The line of reasoning is that firearms are a public health hazard/menace and thus may be restricted by the Surgeon General or perhaps the Department of HHS.

 

[XTR]

That one has been on the list from Drs for several yrs now.

 

[okie]

total bovine excrement
i was at the va when my dad got asked the same thing. the doc was my buddy. he apologized for asking after the fact. yep its gonna get worse

 

[Mark M.]

One of the things Obama put in place

 

[rijndael]

Pediatricians have been asking for years.

 

[Ranger188]

I see you live in Oregon. Doesn't surprise me at all, out there.
Next they will come to your house, if you had said yes.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

I don’t normally post stuff like this but my mother lives with us and during a recent follow up call from her medical provider they asked a number of questions that have now become pretty standard. Questions such as do you feel safe in the house, do you feel depressed or lonely but a new question that has been added is a very direct one asking if she owns a gun or has guns in the house. WTF business of it is theirs.

Everyone I know has lost their guns.

 

[bpd459]

Greetings,
Sadly, Its been going on in WA state for years.
John

 

[Intheshop]

Ask him/her about their malpractice insurance. Go easy at first.... then ramp it up after they give you the BS about the gun question being SOP. You need to be ready with some figures on how Drs kill more people than guns..... be extremely polite. And leave them with the notion that you're so thankful for asking,that it really piqued the interest in malpractice. Need more?

Ask if it's ok to see their proof of insurance card/certificate. Can I call that insurer to see about claims.... or is that private?

If everyone started questioning these dipchits,they.... AND their insurer would wise up.

 

[wbm]

For seniors which is more dangerous....A: Stairs and bathtubs in the house B: Firearms in the house.? All the stats I have read on senior health go with answer A.....BIG TIME! Well that is with the exception of California of course where firearms are known to cause cancer and reproductive health issues.

 

[swd]

I was asked that on a questionnaire at the pediatricians office when my daughter was a baby. I just left it blank.

 

[SSL]

Required by law, so don't hassle the doctors. Most hate it too. My doctor asks every year at my physical and then snickers. I do too, since she is a shooter whose graduation present was a fully tricked out Kimber. 45.

 

[Intheshop]

"Required by law".... so is malpractice insurance. And there are some ethics questions in here that need to be addressed..... theirs. I'd wear their a$$ out.

 

[tmwinds]

Required by law, so don't hassle the doctors. Most hate it too. My doctor asks every year at my physical and then snickers. I do too, since she is a shooter whose graduation present was a fully tricked out Kimber. 45.

Can you point me to that law? My wife and I probably see several doctors numerous time annually and have never been ask about firearms.

 

[M-61]

Required by law, so don't hassle the doctors.

In some states, yes.
In the case of the VA, which does not fall under state laws, they have been asking this question (along with many others) for at least the last 10 years.

 

[Retired Grunt]

Respond with, "Why do you want to Learn"

One of my ARNP's shoots. when she has time we talk about different pistols.