Don't be surprised if your doctor asks you about guns

[rangerrebew]

Don't be surprised if your doctor asks you about guns
April 20, 2018 by Kristina Davis, The San Diego Union-Tribune

By now you are probably used to the probing questions your doctor asks during your annual checkup.

How have you been sleeping lately? Any increased stress at work? Problems at home? Have you engaged in any risky sexual activity?

Don't be surprised if, in the future, the questioning turns to guns.

With gun violence on the rise over the past few years and mass shootings happening more frequently, physicians are making a renewed push to treat the issue as a public health crisis. And part of that begins in your doctor's office.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-04-dont-doctor-guns.html

[Applewood]

Mine started asking about guns several years ago.  Finally, during one exam, I told him, yeah, I have this arsenal and if he gives me any trouble, I'm going to shoot up his office.  Scared his assistant to death, but my doctor knows me well enough to know I was pulling his leg.  The next year, he didn't ask about guns. Told me the question is no longer required. But this year, he did ask if I felt homicidal. LOL

[XenaLee]

Considering that it's government (rather, make that government with a "big G") that's asking...

I have no problems or qualms whatsoever when it comes to lying about something that is none of their damned business.

[Jazzhead]

The gun debate tends to focus on the "problem" of mass shootings with "assault rifles",  but the biggest reason a lot of rational people don't choose to have a gun in the home is the risk of suicide.    Guns make suicide quick and convenient,  and therefore attractive as a way out of depression and anxiety.    And that's why doctors ask about it,  and see firearms ownership as a public health issue.   Thousands and thousands of lives are lost each year to gun-assisted suicide.   How many of us haven't known a friend or relative or colleague who's been touched by it? 

[Applewood]

The gun debate tends to focus on the "problem" of mass shootings with "assault rifles",  but the biggest reason a lot of rational people don't choose to have a gun in the home is the risk of suicide.    Guns make suicide quick and convenient,  and therefore attractive as a way out of depression and anxiety.    And that's why doctors ask about it,  and see firearms ownership as a public health issue.   Thousands and thousands of lives are lost each year to gun-assisted suicide.   How many of us haven't known a friend or relative or colleague who's been touched by it?

Well, I don't have guns because of my bad eyesight and coordination.  If someone broke into my house, I'd probably shoot everyone and everything but the intruder. 

I actually thought since the doctor started asking sometime after Obamacare was passed that it was an Obamacare requirement.  Or maybe a requirement from my insurance carrier. 

You may be right about suicides. Personally though if that's the reason for the question, it's kinda foolish.  As with murder, if a person wanted to off himself, there are other ways to do so without firearms.  So if a person is suicidal, should we take away not only his guns, but also his knives, medications, maybe even his gas range?    Seems silly to me.

[truth_seeker]

Not a single doctor has ever asked me anything about guns, period.

Or even about knives, explosives, or assault vehicles for that matter.

Further I have filled out several Medical History forms lately, and not a single question on guns.

Meanwhile a homeless crazy man, stabbled a man in the neck and killed him, in Ventura CA....just days ago.

He was "on the radar," but police had determined he posed no danger.

So perhaps in questioning their patients re. risks to their health, a better line of inquiry might be about the PEOPLE in their lives.

I wonder how many bedridden elderly are victims of "attack pillows?"

[Cyber Liberty]

Considering that it's government (rather, make that government with a "big G") that's asking...

I have no problems or qualms whatsoever when it comes to lying about something that is none of their damned business.

"Just say 'No.'"  No matter what.  Such a time is not the time to lecture somebody on the right to be left alone.

If any word other than "No!" comes from your mouth when asked this question, the Doctor, who is really not in your employ will write down "Yes" (he/she works for the State Licensing Board).  To a bureaucrat, it's a binary question.  "Nunya bidness" will be taken as a "Yes!"

[XenaLee]

"Just say 'No.'"  No matter what.  Such a time is not the time to lecture somebody on the right to be left alone.

If any word other than "No!" comes from your mouth when asked this question, the Doctor, who is really not in your employ will write down "Yes" (he/she works for the State Licensing Board).  To a bureaucrat, it's a binary question.  "Nunya bidness" will be taken as a "Yes!"

Exactly.  And don't even make threats in jest.  For all we know, the "G" has commanded doctors to report ANY threats of violence, even if done in humor.

[GtHawk]

It's part of the annual physical questions, like are you depressed, are you sexually active, does anyone in your home make you afraid. When the ask me 'Do you have a gun in your home?' I always answer honestly "No I do not have A gun in my home", I mean why take it out on the doctor or office personnel for asking a question the government makes them. I mean it's not like most people don't lie to their doctors most of the time anyway.

[roamer_1]

LOL! I would laugh my ass off if my doc asked me that sort of shit. Never happened. Probably never will... And the answer is self-evident.

[Cyber Liberty]

LOL! I would laugh my ass off if my doc asked me that sort of shit. Never happened. Probably never will... And the answer is self-evident.

Where you live you would probably be certifiable if you DIDN'T own a weapon. 

[GtHawk]

Where you live you would probably be certifiable if you DIDN'T own a weapon.

Isn't that true for all of us anyway?

[Victoria33]

"Just say 'No.'"  No matter what.  Such a time is not the time to lecture somebody on the right to be left alone.If any word other than "No!" comes from your mouth when asked this question, the Doctor, who is really not in your employ will write down "Yes" (he/she works for the State Licensing Board).  To a bureaucrat, it's a binary question.  "Nunya bidness" will be taken as a "Yes!"

@Cyber Liberty

My doctor asks one question followed by two short comments.  He asks, "Is your emergency book out yet?" Followed by, "I'm buying it."  Followed by, "In an emergency, I'm coming to your house to live."  He knows I have an arsenal and is counting on me having them.  We have two extra bedrooms and he has claim on one.  As long as he brings a stack of medicine, he is welcome.

[dfwgator]

Then the doctor shouldn't be surprised when my answer is, "It's none of your f'ing business."

[Cyber Liberty]

@Cyber Liberty

My doctor asks one question followed by two short comments.  He asks, "Is your emergency book out yet?" Followed by, "I'm buying it."  Followed by, "In an emergency, I'm coming to your house to live."  He knows I have an arsenal and is counting on me having them.  We have two extra bedrooms and he has claim on one.  As long as he brings a stack of medicine, he is welcome.

If I lived near you, I'd have a tent and a couple bug-out bags ready to go to your house. ^-^

[WingNot]

If I lived near you, I'd have a tent and a couple bug-out bags ready to go to your house. ^-^

Try Roamer's place.  Better class of vermin where he lives.

[Cyber Liberty]

Try Roamer's place.  Better class of vermin where he lives.

@Victoria33 has better weather.

[roamer_1]

@Victoria33 has better weather.

Sorry, no... Cold can be dealt with... heat, not so much.

[Cyber Liberty]

Sorry, no... Cold can be dealt with... heat, not so much.

Depends on the person.  I was raised in Michigan, and I found that cold was not something I could deal with.  It was the digging my car out from under the show to get to class/work, and the fact that my feet were constantly cold.  That's how I ended up in Phoenix. 

Now, after 40 or so years, I'm finding Summers more difficult to get through, so we're looking for something in between to retire.  Sedona is where Mrs. Liberty is starting to window shop houses.

[Victoria33]

Sorry, no... Cold can be dealt with... heat, not so much.

@Cyber Liberty
@roamer_1

Not to worry, Cyber.  I have battery fans with unending battery power and certain type missing fans that cool the ambient air around you and special type towels that do not drip water but hold water in them and one goes around your neck and will cool you down for hours as water evaporates, before you need to dip it in water, again.

I have gone through numerous hurricanes, losing power, in hot weather and stayed cool.

Winter is not a problem, either.  Have devices to keep you warm.  I do not want to be in subzero weather.

I have seven ways to cook and will never run out of fuel.  Will never run out of pure water - I can make pure water out of water in a ditch.

[roamer_1]

Depends on the person.  I was raised in Michigan, and I found that cold was not something I could deal with.  It was the digging my car out from under the show to get to class/work, and the fact that my feet were constantly cold.  That's how I ended up in Phoenix. 

Now, after 40 or so years, I'm finding Summers more difficult to get through, so we're looking for something in between to retire.  Sedona is where Mrs. Liberty is starting to window shop houses.

  Six of one...
I have plentiful potable surface water, plentiful game, and plentiful wood, both for building and for heat, out there in the bush. If SHTF, I do not need to maintain a castle - I will hold to 'castle' thinking while I can, but I can go 'ranger' at any given moment... I will trade all that for a little cold any day.

But then, I know how to be comfortable in any weather these mountains can throw... I can be snug as a bug out in the bush with temps hovering around -30.

Desert, not so much. Water is scarce and needs to be made potable, game is scarce, and endless days over 95 degrees with no means of mediation makes for a tough set of problems if you get kicked out of your castle.

[WingNot]

I don't know where Roamer roams but I'm Heading to Montana if SHTF   Gonna Do my pilgrim imitation and get into Jeremiah Johnson mode.

[roamer_1]

I don't know where Roamer roams but I'm Heading to Montana if SHTF   Gonna Do my pilgrim imitation and get into Jeremiah Johnson mode.

That's my gig. 

Better come early and get to learning.

[WingNot]

That's my gig. 

Better come early and get to learning.

You have done well to keep so much hair, when so many's after it. I hope... you will fare well. And Maybe we will cross paths. The Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world.

[roamer_1]

You have done well to keep so much hair, when so many's after it. I hope... you will fare well. And Maybe we will cross paths. The Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world.

That's right... Don't let em take your topknot.