Doctors Asking Parents about gun ownership

[LePetomane]

So what good is HIPPA when these doctors report their data on gun ownership to the legal authorities?

[Hmac]

So what good is HIPPA when these doctors report their data on gun ownership to the legal authorities?

Doctors don't report anything to anyone. They're obligated to keep all that information confidential, and they do. They only put the data in the medical record, just as they've been doing for a century or more. But if the government or law enforcement wants it, they just subpoena it, or if they're just data mining then they just hack it. And of course your insurance company can get that data anytime they want to do whatever they want with it, since you gave them permission to do so.

[Hmac]

Or that he would be able to 'educate' you and avoid trips to the emergency room? I didn't think a doctor was responsible for that.

Getting advice about how to stay out of the emergency room is a big part of what people pay doctors to do. This particular doctor carried it a little too far and brought his own personal biases into the interview. Inappropriate IMHO.

Really?? I don't see them offering much advice on safe driving or downhill skiing.

I don't see them asking about gun ownership, but I know that some do.

[Bearcatrp]

I have the best response if asked.
DOC: so, do you have andy guns at your home?
Patient: Doc, how many blow jobs have you done lately (if man)-How my vaginas have licked lately (if woman)
Doc: My sexual orientation is none of your business
Patient: Exactly, this is non of your **** business either!

[20mm]

But if the government or law enforcement wants it, they just subpoena it, or if they're just data mining then they just hack it. And of course your insurance company can get that data anytime they want to do whatever they want with it, since you gave them permission to do so.

Government gets it the instant it goes digital over a few miles of wire. Lets not be naive, unless you like snowjobs.

I have the best response if asked.
DOC: so, do you have andy guns at your home?

I know you're trying to be funny, but I'd go with...

Why are you asking? What does this have to do with my appointment? Does a paint ball gun count?

Do you want to see my guns RIGHT NOW??!?!!


start flexing...

[Hmac]

But if the government or law enforcement wants it, they just subpoena it, or if they're just data mining then they just hack it. And of course your insurance company can get that data anytime they want to do whatever they want with it, since you gave them permission to do so.

Government gets it the instant it goes digital over a few miles of wire. Lets not be naive, unless you like snowjobs.

Or are overly paranoid.

[Hmac]

But if the government or law enforcement wants it, they just subpoena it, or if they're just data mining then they just hack it. And of course your insurance company can get that data anytime they want to do whatever they want with it, since you gave them permission to do so.

Government gets it the instant it goes digital over a few miles of wire. Lets not be naive, unless you like snowjobs.

I have the best response if asked.
DOC: so, do you have andy guns at your home?

I know you're trying to be funny, but I'd go with...

Why are you asking? What does this have to do with my appointment? Does a paint ball gun count?

Do you want to see my guns RIGHT NOW??!?!!


start flexing...

Fun fantasy, isn't it? Everybody's brave and clever from their keyboard...

[20mm]

Or are overly paranoid.

Can you feel that snow? It's blowing really hard... watch out for shrinkage.

[Hmac]

Or are overly paranoid.

Can you feel that snow? It's blowing really hard... watch out for shrinkage.

Heh. A lot of this thread reminds me of a Seinfeld episode.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Comeba ... einfeld%29

[Grayskies]

I do seem to remember the military definition of a gun... Either, well you know..., or those big things on battleships.

Technically I have firearms though I still slip up and use weapon from time to time.

In reality those questionairs are getting to personally invasive, In a way it is like they are shopping for more business. I am going to start saying "none of your business" to more of them, the Doctor doesn't like it, well... It would not be the 1st one I fired for being a jerk.

[Hmac]

In reality those questionairs are getting to personally invasive, In a way it is like they are shopping for more business. I am going to start saying "none of your business" to more of them, the Doctor doesn't like it, well... It would not be the 1st one I fired for being a jerk.

Doctors have to ask a lot of personally invasive questions and do a lot of personally invasive things in order to do the job they're being hired to do for you. I just don't think that things like firearms in the home are part of that job. I agree that it's none of their business. I think it's appropriate for you to politely tell them so, and if they don't like it then I think you should fire them.

[Grayskies]

In reality those questionairs are getting to personally invasive, In a way it is like they are shopping for more business. I am going to start saying "none of your business" to more of them, the Doctor doesn't like it, well... It would not be the 1st one I fired for being a jerk.

Doctors have to ask a lot of personally invasive questions and do a lot of personally invasive things in order to do the job they're being hired to do for you. I just don't think that things like firearms in the home are part of that job. I agree that it's none of their business. I think it's appropriate for you to politely tell them so, and if they don't like it then I think you should fire them.

I get some of that, truly I do. Pissing-off the guy/gal that is looking after my health is not something I really want to do.

Perhaps this is more a systemic problem, seems to me, back in day when we thought the wheel was a fad, you had a better relationship with your doctor, he/she had more time to know you. These days you wait forever, get 15 minutes with the doctor, most of which he/she is reading through your chart trying to get enough information on you to make good decisions.

Maybe the questionnaires started as a cheat sheet to speed things up, the problem becomes the committee that write these damned things. Possibly some over zealous doctors as well.

For me they have crossed over a line and are into issues that are truly not their business. Unfortunatly the person asking these questions are going too take the brunt of the resentment, as the committees tend to not want to face or listen to those they have offended.

Faced with almost no oppertunity to give feedback (that is listened too) about how invasive and offensive these questionairs have become, I have to make the point that this is unacceptable. This can mean some nurse gets his/her nose out of joint, sorry, I do try to be nice about it but I will not be bullied by these people.

I think a lot of the responces we see here and elsewhere are born of sheer frustration with a system that is invading personal and family privacy in some very underhanded ways (questioning kids about the parents gun ownership as an example), while giving the patients very few if any options to say this is unaceptable and it ends for myself and my family.

TL:DR You missed some truly epic examples of bad spelling and grammer!

[Hmac]

You always have an opportunity to provide feedback...all you have to do is write a letter. Furthermore, patient satisfaction surveys are mandated these days. One of the government's current initiatives is patient satisfaction. Patients are deluged with with questionnaires these days about how you felt about that visit or hospitalization. Those things are all looked at carefully by hospitals and clinics. Your concerns are heard, and reviewed. At our quality meeting every month, we review every single patient complaint and comment and any involved personnel are "spoken to", systems and procedures are reviewed. That applies whether you fill out a questionnaire and enter stuff into the "comments" section, or if you write a letter of dissatisfaction and send it to the hospital's adminstration. If there was something about your doctor visit that displeased you then I strongly encourage you to write a letter about it.

As to waiting to see the doctor, yes, it's a problem. There just aren't enough doctors, and the ones that do finish medical school aren't going into the primary care specialties...they're looking for jobs with a "controllable lifestyle", meaning no call, 8 hours a day, etc. There just aren't enough people going into medicine these days, but demand is higher than ever.

[Ironbear]

Doctors don't report anything to anyone. They're obligated to keep all that information confidential, and they do. They only put the data in the medical record, just as they've been doing for a century or more.

They aren't doing a good job of convincing me! When my kid was born, I started getting stuff from the county and state, that indicated they got more medical information than a birth certificate. Can't really blame the doctor if they are legally obligated to supply it, but the 'crats certainly seem to have their noses in it!

[Hmac]

Doctors don't report anything to anyone. They're obligated to keep all that information confidential, and they do. They only put the data in the medical record, just as they've been doing for a century or more.

They aren't doing a good job of convincing me! When my kid was born, I started getting stuff from the county and state, that indicated they got more medical information than a birth certificate. Can't really blame the doctor if they are legally obligated to supply it, but the 'crats certainly seem to have their noses in it!

Doctors don't report anything. At any live birth, they fill out a bunch of forms for the medical record that are required by the state legislators that we all elected, and somebody files them with the state as required by law.