When your doctor asks you about guns in your house:

[Lumpy]

Forgive my extreme ignorance- I've learned to tune out 95+% of the cacophony that passes for public debate these days- but when did doctors start asking if you own guns, and under what mandate?

[Hmac]

Forgive my extreme ignorance- I've learned to tune out 95+% of the cacophony that passes for public debate these days- but when did doctors start asking if you own guns, and under what mandate?

There's no mandate. As gun violence has become a more prominent part of the public debate and it's been declared it a public health issue, various medical specialty societies and the AMA have taken up the cause and recommended that their member physicians address it as a public health issue and "educate" their patients on the subject in order to keep them safe.

[wasfuzz]

It was on a form provided to me by Mayo Health Care Systems - to fill out on a recent visit. So yes Corp does impose that level of interference, at least the the Mayo System!

That was a form for YOU to fill out. Not the doctor. The doctors, PAs, and NPs don't work from a script. What did the doctor say when you left it blank? I know what they said to me.....

Not a thing as I answered to the best of my ability!

[Hmac]

It was on a form provided to me by Mayo Health Care Systems - to fill out on a recent visit. So yes Corp does impose that level of interference, at least the the Mayo System!

That was a form for YOU to fill out. Not the doctor. The doctors, PAs, and NPs don't work from a script. What did the doctor say when you left it blank? I know what they said to me.....

Not a thing as I answered to the best of my ability!

If I fill those things out at all, I"m very selective what I tell them. Every time I go to the WFMC as a patient, they want me to fill out that form online before the appointment. They ask about smoking, they ask about drinking, they ask about a lot of other stuff, but there isn't a single question about guns.

[Citiot]

Just answer no.

[aprilian]

"I'm sorry, I don't see that question as being relevant to the reason for my visit today"
"I'm sorry, I don't see that question as being relevant to the reason for my visit today"
"I'm sorry, I don't see that question as being relevant to the reason for my visit today"
"I'm sorry, I don't see that question as being relevant to the reason for my visit today"

For example, if I go in for a rash and he asks about scheduling a colonoscopy...
"I'm sorry, I don't see that question as being relevant to the reason for my visit today"

[Hmac]

"I'm sorry, I don't see that question as being relevant to the reason for my visit today"
"I'm sorry, I don't see that question as being relevant to the reason for my visit today"
"I'm sorry, I don't see that question as being relevant to the reason for my visit today"
"I'm sorry, I don't see that question as being relevant to the reason for my visit today"

For example, if I go in for a rash and he asks about scheduling a colonoscopy...
"I'm sorry, I don't see that question as being relevant to the reason for my visit today"

You are the one that is ultimately responsible for your health care. You hire the guy to give you advice about things you know nothing about, but since you're the boss, you certainly don't have to take that advice. The customer is always right.

[LePetomane]

You are the one that is ultimately responsible for your health care.

Isn't that idea lost on most people these days? It seems that there is a pill for everything. Statins used to be the wonder drug. What is it now?

[Hmac]

You are the one that is ultimately responsible for your health care.

Isn't that idea lost on most people these days? It seems that there is a pill for everything. Statins used to be the wonder drug. What is it now?

Prilosec.You can even buy it over the counter prescribed by Dr. Google.

[Lumpy]

Forgive my extreme ignorance- I've learned to tune out 95+% of the cacophony that passes for public debate these days- but when did doctors start asking if you own guns, and under what mandate?

There's no mandate. As gun violence has become a more prominent part of the public debate and it's been declared it a public health issue, various medical specialty societies and the AMA have taken up the cause and recommended that their member physicians address it as a public health issue and "educate" their patients on the subject in order to keep them safe.

Ah, no mandate just "recommend". Good to know. So far I haven't been asked; but if I were, answered "yes" and then had the doctor "educate" me about the risks of a gun in the home, I would reply something like the following:
"Yes, I've heard that and when I looked into it I found that the statistics were highly misleading; they counted every single death that occurred in a home with a gun, whether the gun was actually involved in the death or not".

When a single payer system is in place the government will use your medical records as a portal into your life. They instituted HIPPA, they can exempt themselves from it.

The price of dependency is obedience.

[mrp]

I took my kid to his annual well child appointment recently. There were no questions about firearms.

They do send you home with a six page "after visit summary" which includes information on development, exercise, sleep, safety, discipline, eye care, etc. appropriate for your child's age group. Guns are mentioned in the "Safety" section:

"Keep all guns out of your child's reach. Keep guns and ammunition locked up in different parts of the house."

And that's it. This was for 7-11 year olds, so it may differ for older kids.

[LePetomane]

I had been seeing my GI guy for a chronic condition (fortunately stable) but it has been 6 to 7 years since my last complete physical. A friend of mine in the TC recommended a his cardiologist. I saw him two weeks ago. ECG, cholesterol, history and physical minus the prostate exam. I checked out fine. No questions about guns.

[MJY65]

For example, if I go in for a rash and he asks about scheduling a colonoscopy...
"I'm sorry, I don't see that question as being relevant to the reason for my visit today"

Should your physician only address the specific reason you scheduled? If when examining the rash he/she notices that you have a malignant melanoma 6" away from the rash should he ignore it since it's irrelevant? Perhaps you'd like it if he just said: "There's a life threatening condition I just noticed, but since it isn't relevant to your visit today we can schedule another time to discuss it."

[Hmac]

Ah, no mandate just "recommend". Good to know. So far I haven't been asked; but if I were, answered "yes" and then had the doctor "educate" me about the risks of a gun in the home, I would reply something like the following:
"Yes, I've heard that and when I looked into it I found that the statistics were highly misleading; they counted every single death that occurred in a home with a gun, whether the gun was actually involved in the death or not".

I'm sure a lot of people fantasize about what they should have said. On the drive home from the clinic.

Anyway, by all means extend that fantasy into a gun control argument with your doctor next time you see him. He's pretty busy, is 45 minutes behind schedule, and has a waiting room full of people. It will be a short and pretty one-sided argument. He doesn't have enough time, and doesn't care enough.

[Hmac]

I had been seeing my GI guy for a chronic condition (fortunately stable) but it has been 6 to 7 years since my last complete physical. A friend of mine in the TC recommended a his cardiologist. I saw him two weeks ago. ECG, cholesterol, history and physical minus the prostate exam. I checked out fine. No questions about guns.

Specialists and consultants outside of the primary care realm don't do Health Care Maintenance. Guns in the home would virtually never be part of that office visit unless your gun was somehow affecting your gastrointestinal tract.