Most Americans have strong feelings about gun control, whether in favor of more or less. Legislation has even been passed restricting physicians from discussing guns with patients. What is your opinion about healthcare professionals discussing safekeeping of guns in the home?
Gun ownership and regulation is a very emotional issue in the U.S. and there has been strong reaction to whether physicians and other healthcare providers should be involved in doing more to curb gun related injuries and deaths. I would like to hear some of your opinions regarding physician involvement, but first let's look at some of the gun statistics in the U.S.
More than 108,000 people are shot per year in murders, assaults, suicides, suicide attempts, unintentional shootings or by police intervention.
* More than 32,000 of them die.
* The U.S. has the most gun homicides of any developed nation. 29.7 per 100,000.
* Everyday 297 people are shot.
* 89 people die.
* 31 of them are murdered.
* 55 are suicides.
* 2 are killed unintentionally.
* 1 is killed by police.
* 1 is unknown intent.
* One in five deaths are people ages 15-29.
Over 17,000 American children and teens are injured or killed each year due to gun violence.
* 2,677 of those children die.
* Nearly 48 youth are shot per day including 7 fatalities.
* 5 are murdered and 2 are suicides.
1 in 3 homes with children have guns.
* 42% of parents with guns keep at least one unlocked.
* 25% of parents with guns keep at least loaded.
* 3 in 4 children know where firearms are kept in the home.
(Statistics; bradycampaign.org).
It has been suggested that clinicians could play a major role in reducing children's access to guns by asking if there is a gun in the home, and if so, counseling on firearm storage practices. One study showed that patients who received counseling on firearm storage were more likely to make a change in storage practice than patients who did not receive counseling. (64% vs 33%). (J Am Board Fam.Pract).
Pediatrician's offices and hospitals routinely give out infant and car seats, would it also be appropriate to distribute trigger locks and lockboxes? Firearm related injuries are a public health issue, so should there be public health initiatives regarding firearms such as there have been for reducing tobacco, toy and motor vehicle related deaths?
Let's say, I answer yes to the question. I have a gun in my home. How many more questions will follow?
Do you lock it up? Do you have children in the home? Is your weapon registered? Are you a felon that cannot legally own a gun?
I do not lock up my gun. I have it chambered and ready to go on my nightstand.
What then is the healthcare professional's responsibility? Hand me a pamphlet on gun safety.. or call the "authorities"?
What happens when someone comes in high on illegal drugs, or tells us that they use drugs illegally, or find that they're an undocumented immigrant? I don't know what happens in your ER, but in mine the answer is not "call the authorities," because that would violate HIPAA. The obvious exception, of course, is a gunshot wound or other criminal behavior (varies by state).
But "failure to secure a firearm" isn't generally illegal. Who would we call to report your legal, unsafe behavior to? I could call your parents, I guess, but no one else is going to care.
The responsibility of the healthcare provider is the same as when we find out you don't wear a seatbelt: education. Since when do we go around reporting people for all of their unsafe behavior? Why the assumption that a nurse would do anything differently than they do with other screening questions, including violate federal law? This is very weird to me.
Yes, but we are there to address healthcare issues. How far into these issues are we supposed to delve? Our role isn't to investigate if they are allowed to own handguns or have a criminal record. It becomes a slippery slope that we as healthcare providers aren't trained or qualified to handle.
Yes, but we are there to address healthcare issues. How far into these issues are we supposed to delve? Our role isn't to investigate if they are allowed to own handguns or have a criminal record. It becomes a slippery slope that we as healthcare providers aren't trained or qualified to handle.
It hasn't been slippery for me. Asked and answered.
It's funny you should mention this because most of the countries listed here have far more permissible gun rights than here in the U.S which explains why the homicide rate is so high in the U.S.
Switzerland is actually one of the highest gun ownership per capita in the world with a very low homicide rate.
Farawyn
12,646 Posts
I ask why not. I determine whether I feel safe in the home. If I don't, my agency will back me leaving.
It hasn't happened yet. Either my gun totin' patients are safe, or lying.