Florida doctors banned from asking about guns

http://www.npr.org/2011/05/07/136063523/florida-bill-could-muzzle-doctors-on-gun-safety

I don't really know what to think about this, can you really make a law saying you can't say X? That sounds like a clear breach of free speech to me.

The article doesn't seem to say that doctors are banned from talking about guns in general... just asking their patients if there are guns in the home.

Because really, unless the patient was commenting on suicide or murder, why would a doctor need to know if there was a gun in their patient's house in the first place?

edited 7th May '11 10:23:00 AM by Swish

Safety? Same reason they ask about pools, if you smoke, etc. Preventive procedure.

Now, see, I see the "safety" aspect of asking if a patient smokes, or about their diet... but why ask if they have a pool? Does swimming cause medical issues?

I really don't see the "safety" aspect of asking a gun... You know, because "don't shoot yourself" is supposed to be a given, right? Is the doctor going to take the time to explain to a patient how to clean a gun properly? Since the answer to that is probably no, I really don't see the reason for such a question...

If I understand this rightly, the bill is aimed at pediatricians. They used to discuss things like pool and firearm safety to make sure children don't accidentally drown or shoot themselves.

(I didn't know they did that, either.)

Basically this. It's a "Do you have guns in the house? Do you keep them stored safely?" in part of a "child-proofing your house" talk, because there's no classes you have to take to be a parent.

...wait..so they want to ban pediatricians from telling people that "you shouldnt have a loaded fucking weapon where little timmy can get it"?

Oh floruida. You so fucking retarded.

edited 7th May '11 11:21:53 AM by Midgetsnowman

I can see it being unreasonable for them to ask children whether their parents own a gun without the parents knowing. But as far as asking in general that is ridiculous, since nobody has to answer the question if they don't want to answer it.

Nonetheless, doctors likely only cover that topic in the interest of not having another set f parents where their kid accidentally shoots someone.

While I agree with the sentiment, I have never heard of a doctor asking a parent if the cabinet where there are cleaning supplies is child-proof locked... And it would seem to me that accidental poisoning is more common than a gunshot.

Perhaps if the doctor really cared about a child's safety they'd ask about everything that can harm the child...

edited 7th May '11 11:40:13 AM by Swish

They do. Most pediatricians also encourage parents to attend lectures on how to not accidentally kill the kid. Also, most of this takes place in the pre-natal care period, in the months leading up to the actual birth.

@Swish: Thats because most parents don't fly off the handle or think anything offensive about being told "keep poisons away fromn a child" "Keep guns away from a child" apparently offends some of the more insane gun nuts who make other gun owners look bad.

Oh, I know most of the "how not to kill your kid" explanations are done prior to birth. My point is that the gun safety bits should come up then as well.

Pediatricians don't tend to ask, as a reminder, if a parent has childproofed their cabinets (unless the child came in poisoned or something of the like), because the idea is that such preventative explanations were likely covered prior to the birth, and the doctor shouldn't assume the parents are retarded. I just think that the same should courtesy should be applied to gun owners...

Speaking as someone who's answered phones for na pediatric clinic before I can assure you, if doctors assume parents are functionally retarded, its because at least one in five couples or so IS

better to piss off four couples than miss the one couple who needs to be harped at to listen.

Is there some epidemic of doctors asking about guns that I don't know about? Is it causing some widespread harm?

No.

Reminds me of that Tennessee Law about not teaching Evolution. Just shows how stupid they are.

Guns are a very unhealthy object for kids to ingest. Seek medical attention immediately if they swallow a bullet.

Wow. I would lose more faith in humanity if I still considered the Americans human.

edited 7th May '11 1:03:22 PM by Medinoc

^^Lots of small parts inside most modern firearms too. :V

But I wouldn't be all that surprised if young parents are asked if they've childproofed the house. I'd thinking locking up things designed to kill stuff would be included in that. Doctors are supposed to assume that for all intents and purposes their paitents are incredibly stupid, that's why the explain everything to you.

^Well thanks man.

edited 7th May '11 1:04:09 PM by HungryJoe

Do we have a general topic for the general anti-American mood that I see prancing around this area of the forums a lot?

Just for that Medonic, Trump will be president.

THAN YOU'LL BE SORRY!

I mean, us too...

BUT STILL!

Assume nothing, ask everything. I would rather annoy some people then have a child potentially injure themselves or someone else.

Guns are not the stupidest thing a doctor could ask about, and I think this ban should exist if and only if certain other questions are banned as well. (No, doc, I don't want to tell you whether my sexual activities are gay or straight.)

@Thatguy: exactly.

When I worked answering phones for a pediatrician, I fielded such fun questions as "My child has been constipated for a week. Should I worry?" or "Is Pneumonia contagious?" or the sheer number of people who will put off medical care of their child until their condituion is so dire it absolutely requires the ER.

Its better to annoy the parents with "stupid" questions and "common sense advice" than let the few that dont have that common sense end up with a dead 2 year old.

edited 7th May '11 5:03:40 PM by Midgetsnowman

I don't think doctors can or should be banned from asking about anything.

Asking questions, especially questions relevant to your job, is covered under free speech. The main thing I see this case doing is forcing the Supreme Court to confirm that.

So, uh, thanks Florida, for protecting doctors' right to ask questions.

The bill is pointless anyway. The parents had the right to refuse to answer the questions in the first place.