The mind boggles

[Neil]

I am very confused.  Why would a doctor ask anything about household safety? 

Doctors are often used to dispense advice on health and injury prevention in the civilized world.

[Habbaku]

Wouldn't raising the insurance rates of gun owners make sense, and be socially desirable?

Raising what insurance rates?

[Monoriu]

I am very confused.  Why would a doctor ask anything about household safety? 

Doctors are often used to dispense advice on health and injury prevention in the civilized world.

This really boggles the mind.  You see a doctor if you have an infection, in order to get the drugs that need prescription.  You don't talk to a doctor because you need "advice".  Especially on injury prevention.  That is so outside a doctor's job description that you may as well ask for the safest way to replace a light bulb. 

[Neil]

Wouldn't raising the insurance rates of gun owners make sense, and be socially desirable?

Raising what insurance rates?

Health insurance, for starters.  Homeowner's insurance would be good too.

[Neil]

I am very confused.  Why would a doctor ask anything about household safety? 

Doctors are often used to dispense advice on health and injury prevention in the civilized world.

This really boggles the mind.  You see a doctor if you have an infection, in order to get the drugs that need prescription.  You don't talk to a doctor because you need "advice".  Especially on injury prevention.  That is so outside a doctor's job description that you may as well ask for the safest way to replace a light bulb.

Hey, you guys talk to doctors when you feel like eating the penis of an endangered animal.  Who are you to say what's right?

[CountDeMoney]

I am very confused.  Why would a doctor ask anything about household safety? 

Doctors are often used to dispense advice on health and injury prevention in the civilized world.

This really boggles the mind.  You see a doctor if you have an infection, in order to get the drugs that need prescription.  You don't talk to a doctor because you need "advice".  Especially on injury prevention.  That is so outside a doctor's job description that you may as well ask for the safest way to replace a light bulb.

Hey, you guys talk to doctors when you feel like eating the penis of an endangered animal.  Who are you to say what's right?

This.  Like a slope-eyed motherfucker.  HERE HAVE MORE RHINO HORN AND TIGER PENIS OH WAIT THERE ISNT ANY MORE

[garbon]

I am very confused.  Why would a doctor ask anything about household safety? 

Doctors are often used to dispense advice on health and injury prevention in the civilized world.

This really boggles the mind.  You see a doctor if you have an infection, in order to get the drugs that need prescription.  You don't talk to a doctor because you need "advice".  Especially on injury prevention.  That is so outside a doctor's job description that you may as well ask for the safest way to replace a light bulb. 

Umm preventative medicine?

[dps]

I think the problem was not so much that he asked, but when she told refused to answer, he basically refused to treat her child and told her to find another pediatrician.  It would seem to me at that point, his proper professional response would have been to explain why he was asking.

Seems he normally answers why he asked that question but didn't because she was such a bitch.  Perhaps he just didn't want to deal with someone like that.

I've no idea, but do private practice docs have any discretion in who they see?

AFAIK, yeah. 

[Monoriu]

I am very confused.  Why would a doctor ask anything about household safety? 

Doctors are often used to dispense advice on health and injury prevention in the civilized world.

This really boggles the mind.  You see a doctor if you have an infection, in order to get the drugs that need prescription.  You don't talk to a doctor because you need "advice".  Especially on injury prevention.  That is so outside a doctor's job description that you may as well ask for the safest way to replace a light bulb. 

Umm preventative medicine?

Doctors are responsible for treating illnesses after they have happened.  Patients engage in preventative medicine ourselves.  Stuff like healthy eating. 

[Monoriu]

And I find it very, very hard to classify household safety as part of medicine.  There are a gazillion ways in which I can injure myself in my home.  I can fall down from a ladder, I can slip in the bathtub (actually my grandmother died that way), objects not securely fastened can fall down and hit my head, I can improperly use training equipment and sustain injuries...can I ask a doctor about any of these?  I'll be (rightly) regarded as crazy if I do.

Do doctors in the west really advise patients about how not to fall down a swimming pool?  How much time do they have on their hands, anyway?  I think the average consultation time I get is about 3 minutes, 5 if the doctor has a really slow day.  To talk about swimming pools when they have 50 people waiting in line is nuts. 

[garbon]

Doctors are responsible for treating illnesses after they have happened.  Patients engage in preventative medicine ourselves.  Stuff like healthy eating. 

I'm just telling you how it is. In a world of ever increasing medical costs, preventative medicine is now a big deal.

[garbon]

And I find it very, very hard to classify household safety as part of medicine.  There are a gazillion ways in which I can injure myself in my home.  I can fall down from a ladder, I can slip in the bathtub (actually my grandmother died that way), objects not securely fastened can fall down and hit my head, I can improperly use training equipment and sustain injuries...can I ask a doctor about any of these?  I'll be (rightly) regarded as crazy if I do.

Do doctors in the west really advise patients about how not to fall down a swimming pool?  How much time do they have on their hands, anyway?  I think the average consultation time I get is about 3 minutes, 5 if the doctor has a really slow day.  To talk about swimming pools when they have 50 people waiting in line is nuts. 

Peds don't normally have 50 patients waiting in line. And yes, I think it is important that they cover safety basics, especially with first time parents.

[Monoriu]

I'll be very surprised if a pediatrician treats fewer than 100 cases a day.  The real number is probably a lot higher.  No wonder your medical costs go up, when your doctors waste precious time to cover household safety, of all things.  If I were a parent, I'll welcome that as very useful and practical advice.  I just never expect it to come from a doctor. 

[Maximus]

I'm just telling you how it is. In a world of ever increasing medical costs, preventative medicine is now a big deal.

Gun ownership isn't medicine, preventative or otherwise. I'm with those who say it's none of the doctor's business. Not sure it needs a law though.

[Berkut]

America! Fuck yeah!

n a pediatrician in Ocala  asked the mother of a young child whether she kept guns in the home.  She refused to answer because, as she put it, "whether I have a gun has  nothing to do with the health of my child."

Though I have to agree. What fucking business is that of his?

Like the article says, it is up there with asking other basic questions about household safety, like "Do you have a pool?" If the answer is yes, then doctor can follow up with "Is your pool adequately secured from your new toddler walking into it and drowning?"

It isn't his business per se, but then, so what? It's not like the doctor can do anything with the information other than provide you with advice, like "Are you aware that accidents with guns kill X children a year, mostly because they are improperly stored? Make sure your guns are locked/stored correctly..."

And really, if the patient/parent doesn't think it is their business, isn't there a pretty obvious recourse. Just tell him you aren't interested in answering the question! Why do you need the state to protect you from it being asked???

I mean seriously, the concern here is that this is all some part of a secret conspiracy to use Obamacare to take away your guns? How fucking wacked out do you have to be to believe something like that?

I understand what you're saying, but I think it sounds like the good Doctor has an axe to grind. According to the article, they did tell him they thought it wasn't his business, and he then didn't want to deal with them. I doubt they would've gotten the same reaction if they thought whether or not they have a pool is none of his business.

So what though? Maybe the doctor is a douchebag, so find another one. Why does the government need to get involved? Because there is a report that one doctor somewhere is an asshole, the state needs to then step in and tell every doctor everywhere what they can and cannot ask their patients?