Doctor asks Do you own a gun?

[Mark B]

A friend went in yesterday for his annual checkup at his Doctor in Wakefield. While he was in the Exam room the Doctor asked, Do you own guns? Do you keep them locked up? Friends reply was, what does this have to do with my exam? Has anyone had this experience? I will be going in a couple of months and would like to be polite but very firm in letting him know that it's no business of his.

[tackle8]

I have never been asked.  If I am ever asked, I will find a new doc.

[Phantom]

Ask the Doctor back ...

Why do I have Lead poisoning ?

[wcr]

Year or so I was asked.  I also noticed the answers were being typed into a computer form which means they put into a database.  I just said I preferred not to answer.  I asked why he need that information, and got some BS about for men my age suicide by guns was not that uncommon.  Since I wasn't depressed or having any mental problems I figured it was just the government trying to build a database, so didn't answer.  The doc said he had just gone through this with another patient (gun owner) just three hours before.  My degree is in CS.  It is very easy to create a database from this info.  Also is your wife or child being asked the same questions and how are they answering?  Easy to run a database query for your last name and address and see if the answere for you, your spouse, and children match.    I'll let your minds wonder who this is shared with and why the questions are there.

[shooter]

I was asked this maybe a year ago when I was in hospital, what I told the person writing stuff down, I cant print here!

[bkoenig]

I haven't been asked yet...but my doctor has a bunch of hunting and shooting mags in the waiting room.

[RobertH]

Our pediatrician asked my wife. I was not present. She answered truthfully. I was mad when I found out. It's none of their business, period. They said they want guns locked up and away from kids, I agree there, but don't ask if I have them, just say keep them locked up.

[Mark B]

From the replies it has been happening for some time. Is there a directive coming from the AMA, CDC, or ?

[deputygunner]

I had it happen a few years ago, during a physical. I said that had nothing to do with my health. Got up, got dressed and walked out, never went back.

 

[Mali]

I agree completely that this is really a NONE of their business unless I am there for a firearm related issue like having suffered a ND injury or lead poisoning symptoms.

I have not had them ask, but then I usually have an empty IWB holster on my hip when I go in for an exam since I can't carry my gun into the building. Have a feeling they know the answer before ever asking me. 

[Kendahl]

I've never been asked and I doubt that the small clinic I use would ask. The closest they have come was a questionnaire about symptoms of depression. The doctor said it sometimes is a problem for elderly men. A few years ago, in a hospital emergency room, I was asked if I was at risk for domestic violence. (The question may have been prompted by the fact that I had been hauled in after falling face first onto a sidewalk.) Surprised, I snorted, "Hell, no!"

If asked about gun ownership, I would reply in the affirmative. How the doctor replied would determine the subsequent direction of the conversation. It wouldn't bother me to be asked or reminded about storage and safe handling. On the other hand, if the response consisted of gun control claptrap, it could get ugly. I would systematically refute the doctor's anti-gun arguments and not back down. The doctor likely would learn more about the subject than he or she wanted to know.

[Mudinyeri]

"Is that information relevant to my health?" 

[Lmbass14]

I'm concerned that like it was previously stated, that if you reply yes, it will become part of a database since everything is online, then the gov will come looking for ya in the future.