Pediatricians, family and college physicians threaten lawsuit over docs v. glocks bill

[RamboLiberal]

TALLAHASSEE — An uneasy truce is unraveling between the powerful gun lobby and Florida doctors that produced a bill to place more restrictions on the ability of physicians to ask patients about guns in their homes.

The Florida Legislature passed the bill this spring after the two influential interest-groups cut a deal that removed jail time for doctors and weakened other restrictions. But the bargain noticeably excluded pediatricians, who Senate sponsor Greg Evers, R-Milton, said were the genesis behind his legislation after an incident in his Panhandle district. The House sponsor was Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford.

And now, those docs are asking Gov. Rick Scott to veto the bill (HB 155), and threatening to take their fight to the courts if he signs it, as is expected.

“In sum, if CS/CS/HB 155 becomes law, it will deprive healthcare professionals throughout the state of Florida of their rights under the First Amendment to freedom of speech,” wrote Bruce S. Manheim, Jr. and Douglas H. Hallward-Driemeier, the Washington lawyers for the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Florida Chapter of the American College of Physicians.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2011/06/pediatricians-family-and-college-physicians-threaten-a-lawsuit-over-docs-v-glocks-bill.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lawodevolution]

3. Your state is not better than Florida.

[spin]

4. The solution is simple ...

The doctors can pass out pamphlets that explain gun safety and children.

A number of patients worry that if they tell the doctor they have firearms in their home, it may be reported to their insurance company or the government. While this may be unrealistic, many gun owners do not wish to let ANYONE know that they own firearms. My daughter worked for the census in Florida last summer and said that many people distrusted the government so much that she had a very difficult time getting them to tell her how many people lived in their home. She was damned glad she never was required to ask them if they own firearms.

Most of these people would simply lie to the pediatrician and consequently not receive valuable info about how to safely store firearms when young children are present.

If I understand the situation correctly (and there are two sides to this story), a pediatrician asked if a patient owned firearms and when she replied that she did, he told her to seek care elsewhere.

The public debate began when an Ocala, Fla. pediatrician refused to offer care when a mother refused to answer questions about guns in the home, the AP reports. Doctors cite safety concerns over the bill, equating it to other household safety issues such as pools.
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/05/florida_bill_would_bar_doctors_from_asking_patient.php

The object to me is to inform patients about proper storage of firearms. This can be accomplished with a minimal outlay of funds. Amazon.com offers many solutions to this problem including this gun safety box which we cost only $29.54. http://www.amazon.com/SentrySafe-ESB-3-Electronic-Security-Cubic/dp/B003ELKOOO/ref=sr_1_35?ie=UTF8&qid=1307058259&sr=8-35



I fear the media has once again distorted the information on this law as they often do on any gun control issue. Here is a summary of the actual bill.

Privacy of Firearm Owners: Provides that licensed practitioner or facility may not record firearm ownership information in patient's medical record; provides exception; provides that unless information is relevant to patient's medical care or safety or safety of others, inquiries regarding firearm ownership or possession should not be made; provides exception for EMTS & paramedics; provides that patient may decline to provide information regarding ownership or possession of firearms; clarifies that physician's authority to choose patients is not altered; prohibits discrimination by licensed practitioners or facilities based solely on patient's firearm ownership or possession; prohibits harassment of patient regarding firearm ownership during examination; prohibits denial of insurance coverage, increased premiums, or other discrimination by insurance companies issuing policies on basis of insured's or applicant's ownership, possession, or storage of firearms or ammunition; clarifies that insurer is not prohibited from considering value of firearms or ammunition in setting personal property premiums; provides for disciplinary action. Effective Date: upon becoming a law
http://apps.lobbytools.com/pub/index.cfm?type=bills&id=30474

[gejohnston]

7. that is an idea, rather than ask, just hand them out and mention

that you can put pistols or passports or whatever.

[gejohnston]

2. stupid over reaction to stupid reaction

In Florida, anything possible. On the other hand, NY has Peter King, Donald Trump, and Don Imus so there is a bright side to being in the sunshine state.

[jpak]

5. Sue 'em high

sic

yup

[Remmah2]

16. A person who sues.............

.....just might be a sewer!

Yup.

[ileus]

6. cry baby docs...

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Logical]

9. I am 100% on the side of doctors on this case. This is a case of gun owners....

being paranoid. It makes us look like idiots.

[rl6214]

10. What business is it of a doctors, what I have in my home?

The answer is none.

[burrfoot]

11. I'm with you on this one.

If the doc wants to make it a policy to hand out some brief literature on how to safely secure guns to every patient along with their discharge papers or whatever they leave with, I'm totally fine with that.

Whether or not an individual patient actually has a firearm in their home, however, is none of the doc's business. Having a firearm in the home does not, in and of itself, increase the risk of injury or death to anyone.

[beevul]

12. Exactly.

That some are against restrictions of anything beyond what you suggest begs the question:

Why?

[Logical]

13. I ave explained this to you three times. Give it a rest! nt

[rl6214]

14. You haven't explained this to ME once.

I was stating my opinion, not making an opinion of what you believe. You don't always have to be a jerk (give it a rest).

[one-eyed fat man]

15. Seems the whole thing started

when a doctor asked about guns in the home and the patient's mother declined to answer. At which point the doctor ended the exam and said find a new doctor.

Look like an old-fashioned pissing contest from here. A fancy diploma doesn't give him free rein to be a jerk!

[Remmah2]

17. Having a doctors degree only makes them an expert in that field.

Limited to the practice of being a medical doctor.

[RSillsbee]

20. The Doctor finished the exam and told the patient she had 30 days

to find a new Doctor.

W/out extreme extenuating circumstances,you can't just throw a patient out in the middle of an exam. That would be considered patient abandonment and you can get your license revoked for it.

[Bold Lib]

18. Paranoid? It is in response to an actual event where a person

was told to find another doctor over not answering the "gun" question correctly. It is not paranoia to realize and take action do to a real event. This was brought about by an anti gun organization that used pediatricians as a pawn in their politics. This law rectifies that.

[PavePusher]

19. Well, except for the fact....

that at least one doc terminated a patient relationship due to a patient not answering the question....

Paranoia based on real events isn't unfounded, and does not make one "look like (an) idiot".