Should Florida Doctors Get to Ask if Patients Own Guns?

g under p

Should Florida Doctors Get to Ask if Patients Own Guns?

Florida Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Department of Health are appealing a judge’s ruling against a law that says doctors can’t ask patients if they own a gun. WFTX has some background on the issue:

“The law which was passed by the legislature last year was adopted after a north central Florida couple complained that a doctor had asked them about guns in their home in reference to child safety.”

The Palm Beach Post reports supporters of the law say it prevents doctors from discouraging gun ownership, but a federal judge struck down the “Docs v. Glocks” law earlier this month, saying it violates doctors’ free speech rights. WFOR reports in her ruling U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke says the law...

“...aims to restrict a practitioner’s ability to provide truthful, non-misleading information to a patient.”

Judge Cooke says there’s no evidence doctors’ questions would discriminate against gun owners. A press release from Governor Scott’s office denies her claims, saying it not only respects the First Amendment but also protects gun owners from discrimination. The release goes on to say the governor believes the law is constitutional and won’t stop defending it. The National Rifle Association has also backed the law. Still, in an opinion blog, Bloomberg’s Francis Wilkinson writes the “Docs v. Glocks” law has its loopholes.

“Doctors, for example, were entitled to make a ‘good faith’ inquiry -- a clear, objective standard if ever there was one -- about guns if they really felt it was necessary. (On what grounds? Who knows?)”

Wilkinson also says it’s unclear when this would be okay, and that the law pits the First Amendment against the Second: the right to bear arms. On the other hand, a blogger for Florida Voices says the decision to protect yourself with a gun is no one else’s business.


“Ask the British citizens who endured riots last year what it felt like when the government and criminals had guns, and they had none.”

The NRA certainly does not wants any doctors anywhere to be able to ask such questions. What do you think about this?

Another article on this subject...
http://www.news4jax.com/news/Should-Flo ... index.html

Peace

Cosmo

g under p wrote:

Should Florida Doctors Get to Ask if Patients Own Guns?

Florida Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Department of Health are appealing a judge’s ruling against a law that says doctors can’t ask patients if they own a gun. WFTX has some background on the issue:

“The law which was passed by the legislature last year was adopted after a north central Florida couple complained that a doctor had asked them about guns in their home in reference to child safety.”

The Palm Beach Post reports supporters of the law say it prevents doctors from discouraging gun ownership, but a federal judge struck down the “Docs v. Glocks” law earlier this month, saying it violates doctors’ free speech rights. WFOR reports in her ruling U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke says the law...

“...aims to restrict a practitioner’s ability to provide truthful, non-misleading information to a patient.”

Judge Cooke says there’s no evidence doctors’ questions would discriminate against gun owners. A press release from Governor Scott’s office denies her claims, saying it not only respects the First Amendment but also protects gun owners from discrimination. The release goes on to say the governor believes the law is constitutional and won’t stop defending it. The National Rifle Association has also backed the law. Still, in an opinion blog, Bloomberg’s Francis Wilkinson writes the “Docs v. Glocks” law has its loopholes.

“Doctors, for example, were entitled to make a ‘good faith’ inquiry -- a clear, objective standard if ever there was one -- about guns if they really felt it was necessary. (On what grounds? Who knows?)”

Wilkinson also says it’s unclear when this would be okay, and that the law pits the First Amendment against the Second: the right to bear arms. On the other hand, a blogger for Florida Voices says the decision to protect yourself with a gun is no one else’s business.


“Ask the British citizens who endured riots last year what it felt like when the government and criminals had guns, and they had none.”

The NRA certainly does not wants any doctors anywhere to be able to ask such questions. What do you think about this?

Another article on this subject...
http://www.news4jax.com/news/Should-Flo ... index.html

Peace

...
It's Florida. It is safe to assume that everyone has a gun. Act accordingly.

Jason P

In the past, whenever my doctor has asked me if I own a guns, I always .... wait a second ... oh, I'm thinking of when they ask if I have any allergies. :fp:

Who has ever been asked by a doctor if they own guns??? Is this a Florida thing?

don't make me break the official seal out ...

Godfather.

ummm, you can ask a patient if they own a gun....but you can't ask a person if they are in this county legally..kind of a double standard in my opinion.

Godfather.

Jeanwah

Cosmo wrote:

g under p wrote:

The NRA certainly does not wants any doctors anywhere to be able to ask such questions. What do you think about this?

Another article on this subject...
http://www.news4jax.com/news/Should-Flo ... index.html

Peace

...
It's Florida. It is safe to assume that everyone has a gun. Act accordingly.

This. But then again, why would doctors even ask such a question, and how does it even relate to your health?

gimmesometruth27

doctors ask questions about your lifestyle and social activities. they ask if you do drugs, if you drink, if you exercise, if you are under a lot of stress at home or at work. answers to these questions tell the doctor a lot about you as a person. if you abuse drugs that doc is not going to give you narcotics. if you have an alcohol problem he is not going to give you meds that are going to eat up your liver. if there are guns in the house it might dictate how he treats your illness. i am not saying it is the right thing to ask, i am just saying that i am sure there is some information that would help influence the treatment that doctor gives you. and in most cases, full disclosure is important to the medical care you receive.

Godfather.

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

doctors ask questions about your lifestyle and social activities. they ask if you do drugs, if you drink, if you exercise, if you are under a lot of stress at home or at work. answers to these questions tell the doctor a lot about you as a person. if you abuse drugs that doc is not going to give you narcotics. if you have an alcohol problem he is not going to give you meds that are going to eat up your liver. if there are guns in the house it might dictate how he treats your illness. i am not saying it is the right thing to ask, i am just saying that i am sure there is some information that would help influence the treatment that doctor gives you. and in most cases, full disclosure is important to the medical care you receive.

great post, also if somebody dossen't want the doc to know about their guns they will just say no anyway.

Godfather.

justam

When we lived in Austin Texas, I noticed that all hospitals and doctor's offices dealt with the gun issue as if it was the Old West.

They had signs that read:

"Leave all firearms outside. This is a no gun zone."

(This may not be the exact words of course, but it was something direct like that.)

unsung

I don't have a problem with them asking as long as they don't have a problem with me not answering.

gimmesometruth27

justam wrote:

When we lived in Austin Texas, I noticed that all hospitals and doctor's offices dealt with the gun issue as if it was the Old West.

They had signs that read:

"Leave all firearms outside. This is a no gun zone."

(This may not be the exact words of course, but it was something direct like that.)

that is how it is in st. louis. all hospitals and medical offices are gun free zones.

we have enough psychos getting super pissed when the docs cut off their pain meds. i have personally been threatened twice, and i was only the guy telling the patient that the doctor will not refill the pain meds... i can't even imagine what some of them would do if guns were allowed in this building.

Jason P

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

justam wrote:

When we lived in Austin Texas, I noticed that all hospitals and doctor's offices dealt with the gun issue as if it was the Old West.

They had signs that read:

"Leave all firearms outside. This is a no gun zone."

(This may not be the exact words of course, but it was something direct like that.)

that is how it is in st. louis. all hospitals and medical offices are gun free zones.

we have enough psychos getting super pissed when the docs cut off their pain meds. i have personally been threatened twice, and i was only the guy telling the patient that the doctor will not refill the pain meds... i can't even imagine what some of them would do if guns were allowed in this building.

I story isn't about if you have a gun with you at a doctors visit, it's about a doctor asking if you own a gun.

And apparently this isn't a fake story and really does happen in Florida, so without further ado ...

_

Okay, this politicians vs. medicine thing is REALLY getting out of hand. Doctors can - and should - ask you whatever the fuck they feel provides information about your health and safety. For the life of me, I can't figure out why some policians are so hell-bent on preventing doctors from doing their jobs! As gimme pointed out, they ask all kinds of things, including whether you wear your seatbelt, smoke, live with people who smoke, use drugs, have thoughts of suicide, are in an abusive relationship, have unprotected sex, have gay anal sex with prostitutes, etc - questions that can be a lot more uncomfortable than whether or not you have a gun at home. They do this so they can provide the best possible healthcare for you and your family. How can anyone possibly be opposed to doctors providing good health care?! :fp:

Also, Godfather, they can and do ask whether people are in this country legally (in my state, at least).

redrock

I would have thought if a doctor suspects any form of 'blues'/depression/or any form of mental 'tiredness' or illness in a patient, it would be quite an appropriate question to ask.

Prince Of Dorkness

http://www.hark.com/clips/vblztmwzhq-my ... -has-a-gun

catefrances

g under p wrote:

Should Florida Doctors Get to Ask if Patients Own Guns?

Florida Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Department of Health are appealing a judge’s ruling against a law that says doctors can’t ask patients if they own a gun. WFTX has some background on the issue:

“The law which was passed by the legislature last year was adopted after a north central Florida couple complained that a doctor had asked them about guns in their home in reference to child safety.”

The Palm Beach Post reports supporters of the law say it prevents doctors from discouraging gun ownership, but a federal judge struck down the “Docs v. Glocks” law earlier this month, saying it violates doctors’ free speech rights. WFOR reports in her ruling U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke says the law...

“...aims to restrict a practitioner’s ability to provide truthful, non-misleading information to a patient.”

Judge Cooke says there’s no evidence doctors’ questions would discriminate against gun owners. A press release from Governor Scott’s office denies her claims, saying it not only respects the First Amendment but also protects gun owners from discrimination. The release goes on to say the governor believes the law is constitutional and won’t stop defending it. The National Rifle Association has also backed the law. Still, in an opinion blog, Bloomberg’s Francis Wilkinson writes the “Docs v. Glocks” law has its loopholes.

“Doctors, for example, were entitled to make a ‘good faith’ inquiry -- a clear, objective standard if ever there was one -- about guns if they really felt it was necessary. (On what grounds? Who knows?)”

Wilkinson also says it’s unclear when this would be okay, and that the law pits the First Amendment against the Second: the right to bear arms. On the other hand, a blogger for Florida Voices says the decision to protect yourself with a gun is no one else’s business.


“Ask the British citizens who endured riots last year what it felt like when the government and criminals had guns, and they had none.”

The NRA certainly does not wants any doctors anywhere to be able to ask such questions. What do you think about this?

Another article on this subject...
http://www.news4jax.com/news/Should-Flo ... index.html

Peace

i think its weird....why would a doctor ask if a patient owned a gun? what relevance does it have?

_

catefrances wrote:

g under p wrote:

Should Florida Doctors Get to Ask if Patients Own Guns?

Florida Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Department of Health are appealing a judge’s ruling against a law that says doctors can’t ask patients if they own a gun. WFTX has some background on the issue:

“The law which was passed by the legislature last year was adopted after a north central Florida couple complained that a doctor had asked them about guns in their home in reference to child safety.”

The Palm Beach Post reports supporters of the law say it prevents doctors from discouraging gun ownership, but a federal judge struck down the “Docs v. Glocks” law earlier this month, saying it violates doctors’ free speech rights. WFOR reports in her ruling U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke says the law...

“...aims to restrict a practitioner’s ability to provide truthful, non-misleading information to a patient.”

Judge Cooke says there’s no evidence doctors’ questions would discriminate against gun owners. A press release from Governor Scott’s office denies her claims, saying it not only respects the First Amendment but also protects gun owners from discrimination. The release goes on to say the governor believes the law is constitutional and won’t stop defending it. The National Rifle Association has also backed the law. Still, in an opinion blog, Bloomberg’s Francis Wilkinson writes the “Docs v. Glocks” law has its loopholes.

“Doctors, for example, were entitled to make a ‘good faith’ inquiry -- a clear, objective standard if ever there was one -- about guns if they really felt it was necessary. (On what grounds? Who knows?)”

Wilkinson also says it’s unclear when this would be okay, and that the law pits the First Amendment against the Second: the right to bear arms. On the other hand, a blogger for Florida Voices says the decision to protect yourself with a gun is no one else’s business.


“Ask the British citizens who endured riots last year what it felt like when the government and criminals had guns, and they had none.”

The NRA certainly does not wants any doctors anywhere to be able to ask such questions. What do you think about this?

Another article on this subject...
http://www.news4jax.com/news/Should-Flo ... index.html

Peace

i think its weird....why would a doctor ask if a patient owned a gun? what relevance does it have?

It's a risk question, just like all the other things they ask you about that influence your risk of harm (e.g.
Do you always wear your seatbelt?) This one is especially relevant in assessing risk for families with your children at home. If you say you don't wear a seatbelt, they'll probably encourage you to wear it and/or educate you about the risk. If you say you have small children & a gun in your home, they'll probably encourage you keep it locked out of reach of the children and/or educate you about the risk. If you say you are considering suicide & have a gun in your home, they'll probably encourage you to get it out of your home until you feel better and/or work with you to brainstorm other ways to make it less likely that you will use the gun to kill yourself - just like suicide counselors do with other things that make it easier to kill yourself. If you say you're in a domestic violence situation & you have a gun at home, that increase your risk as well. Even if you don't have kids, aren't suicidal, & aren't in a domestic violence situation, it's still important to address gun safety, just like you address any other kind of risk factor. If you have a pool in your yard, they should talk to you about pool safety - but no one's passing laws saying they can't ask about that 'cuz guns are an easier topic through with to incite (sp?) an angry mob.