My letter to the St Pete Times today

[bigmacque]

This column appeared in today's St Pete Times:

Gun lobby has no place in exam room (http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/gun-lobby-has-no-place-in-the-doctors-office/1184270)

My response, via email, to the author:

I read your column in today’s St Pete Times, and would like to offer some more perspective on the situation.
I am a card-carrying member of the NRA, though not adamantly active in any of their political machinations and not one who attends any kind of meetings or other gatherings. I just believe the NRA is an organization that I’d like to support.
I’ve also worked in health care for just over 30 years now, in hospitals, large hospital systems including BayCare, and in the senior care industry. I’ve worked closely with doctors and have been a part of hospital administration. I’ve held various positions in the industry, including running hospital kitchens and overseeing data processing departments, as well as being very intimately knowledgeable of the insurance billing process. I’m very comfortable with my opinion that the real problem with health care in America is not the care, not the care providers, not the quality of care, but simply access to care. That access is controlled by the insurance industry.
Doctor’s are paid by the insurance industry.
Any physician is going to tell you the side of the tale that the people that are paying them want you to hear. In this situation, the physicians are being paid by the insurance industry and the insurance providers are helping the doctors inform the public, to keep the NRA out of the picture, by telling the public that they don’t want the NRA in the exam room.
Unfortunately, the truth of this situation is the reverse of what we’re hearing from the physicians. The insurance industry wants this information, and will get it from the physicians – in fact, the doctor’s cannot hold it back from the insurers. So by requiring physicians to ask questions about gun ownership, the insurance industry is conducting a strong-arm invasion of the privacy of the exam room, and telling the public that the NRA has no business in there, due to the same privacy that the insurance industry is invading.
So the NRA is trying to protect the individuals privacy and their rights under the 2nd Amendment, by preventing doctors from asking questions that should have no place in the exam room; while the insurance industry is invading the individuals privacy and infringing on that individuals rights under the Constitution. The insurance industry is even managing to get the press to raise the banner of their breach of confidentiality.
What we really have here is two large lobby driven special interest groups fighting each other, one of which has their agenda out in the open and on the table, the other hiding their agenda behind something as personal as a visit to the doctor.
I’m sorry, but I do not support your position on this. I believe the NRA is trying to protect my right to privacy and my rights under the Constitution; I’m also keenly aware that the real breach of my privacy is coming from the insurance industry.

[JFootin]

Well said. This statement shows exactly how objective the newspaper writer is: "(Always wondered: Do they have photos involving Barbies, or goats, or what?)" KNOWWHATIMEAN? Why do you think your reasoned reply would be accepted or even comprehended by such a loon?

[jocko]

fokk um, just answer NO if asked. not a big deal...

[Bawanna]

Isn't the Brady Bunch an their type behind all those questions? I didn't realize it was so much the insurance companies.

The doctors my family go to have never asked, they probably know about me since I usually have to down load depending on what area is broke. Ankle, etc.

[bigmacque]

Actually, jocko, just answering no is as big a deal as being asked at all.

A no response would still get noted on your medical record, a record the insurance company can review, as well as a "no answer" response.

The question doesn't belong there in the first place.

[bigmacque]

Lol bwanna ....

My doctor is a young fella, the son of a physician that I was working with 30 years ago. The first time I dropped trou for the infamous finger and that bulky weapony device thingie had to be removed was an eye opening experience for him.

[Bawanna]

Lol bwanna ....

My doctor is a young fella, the son of a physician that I was working with 30 years ago. The first time I dropped trou for the infamous finger and that bulky weapony device thingie had to be removed was an eye opening experience for him.

So far the nurse or nurses have never even flinched when I determined what hardward needed to be removed. Maybe they have seen the uniform, guess I've worn it there going during work a few times and don't panic. They are pretty normal people anyhow.
Most of the doctors in this office have certificates on the wall where they were in the service in some form or another too.
What could be scarey about a deaf derelict in a wheelchair with a couple of guns? Ya know?

[wyntrout]

I feel a lot better in the dental chair, OR the doctors office being armed... just in case some whacko with a beef wants to come shoot up the place... 1 chance in a trillion??? It must have felt different to those particularly unlucky few that have experienced such UNLIKELY events... there I was... sitting in that restaurant or that fateful day in class while I was contemplating anything but the school curriculum for whatever, when the mass killings began. "Stuff" happens.

I went to my dermatologist's office, knowing full well that I was going to have to strip down completely, so I carried a shoulder bag with my records, my beverage and diabetic sugar snacks, and put the EDC in a side pocket. I kept a good watch on that while I was being examined... by my doctor who looked like a bit younger Donald Sutherland and two to three young female assistants or nurse-types.

I did CCW coming and going. They allow you privacy to disrobe and robe.:D

It's not so much the office I'm worried about... but getting there... the drive and the walk from the parking lot to the office. I want to be able to defend myself ANYTIME.

Wynn:)

[jocko]

Actually, jocko, just answering no is as big a deal as being asked at all.

A no response would still get noted on your medical record, a record the insurance company can review, as well as a "no answer" response.

The question doesn't belong there in the first place.

fokking deal, insurance company cannot come into your home unannounced, I agree it should not be asked but it also doesn't have to be answered. If my doctor ask me that, I would tel lhim to shove it and take all my medical records and move on. No doubt in my mind most doctors will not be getting involved in that crap either. Once a doctors looses a few paitents because of this stupid st5uff, they will get around it real quick.Just my 2 cenbts on this but for me it is no big deal. the word NO is still in my vocabulary.

[LaP]

While living in New York a few years back, my doctor said "I'm supposed to ask you whether you have a gun in your house. I will not. But, if you have a gun, be sure it's safe, loaded and you know how to use it." ;)

He was one of my favorite doctors.

P.S.... NY gun laws suck.

[jocko]

and if u did not answer his question, would have he refused u service??? I think Not.

[TheTman]

I instructed my children to always answer no if they were asked if daddy had any guns in the house by teachers, doctors or even cops. I said yes it's lying, but in this instance we are protecting our rights under the constitution and are being a good citizen and sometimes being a good citizen mean saying no, that seemed to satisfy them. I can't recall ever being asked that by a Dr.

[Bawanna]

Funny. When my daughter was in grammar school, guess it's Elementary now days, one of the officers here was speaking to the class as they sometimes do. Not for any federal watch list or anything but just making talk he asked for a show of hands of how many kids had guns in the house. He's a gun guy and was probably looking for some common ground with some of the kids.
My daughter of course proudly put up her hand, he knows me and her pretty well, real well actually, he told her to put up both hands.

[BuckeyeBlast]

My answer is none of your business, none of the insurance company's business, and none of the government's business.

[Tilos]

Nice letter, but sadly, probably will never be published and if it is will be edited to make no sense of the facts you presented.
Tilos

[jocko]

Funny. When my daughter was in grammar school, guess it's Elementary now days, one of the officers here was speaking to the class as they sometimes do. Not for any federal watch list or anything but just making talk he asked for a show of hands of how many kids had guns in the house. He's a gun guy and was probably looking for some common ground with some of the kids.
My daughter of course proudly put up her hand, he knows me and her pretty well, real well actually, he told her to put up both hands.

no harm in that type of class room activity. It was not meant for any record keeping purposes, Probably your daughter should have held up both hands and both feet to.

a good way to stop these foolish questions is to just put a fish head on the fellas car wiper blade. The message gets through real quick. U might think I am shi-tin ya but I am not:59:

[jeepster09]

This column appeared in today's St Pete Times:

Gun lobby has no place in exam room (http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/gun-lobby-has-no-place-in-the-doctors-office/1184270)

My response, via email, to the author:

I read your column in today’s St Pete Times, and would like to offer some more perspective on the situation.
I am a card-carrying member of the NRA, though not adamantly active in any of their political machinations and not one who attends any kind of meetings or other gatherings. I just believe the NRA is an organization that I’d like to support.
I’ve also worked in health care for just over 30 years now, in hospitals, large hospital systems including BayCare, and in the senior care industry. I’ve worked closely with doctors and have been a part of hospital administration. I’ve held various positions in the industry, including running hospital kitchens and overseeing data processing departments, as well as being very intimately knowledgeable of the insurance billing process. I’m very comfortable with my opinion that the real problem with health care in America is not the care, not the care providers, not the quality of care, but simply access to care. That access is controlled by the insurance industry.
Doctor’s are paid by the insurance industry.
Any physician is going to tell you the side of the tale that the people that are paying them want you to hear. In this situation, the physicians are being paid by the insurance industry and the insurance providers are helping the doctors inform the public, to keep the NRA out of the picture, by telling the public that they don’t want the NRA in the exam room.
Unfortunately, the truth of this situation is the reverse of what we’re hearing from the physicians. The insurance industry wants this information, and will get it from the physicians – in fact, the doctor’s cannot hold it back from the insurers. So by requiring physicians to ask questions about gun ownership, the insurance industry is conducting a strong-arm invasion of the privacy of the exam room, and telling the public that the NRA has no business in there, due to the same privacy that the insurance industry is invading.
So the NRA is trying to protect the individuals privacy and their rights under the 2nd Amendment, by preventing doctors from asking questions that should have no place in the exam room; while the insurance industry is invading the individuals privacy and infringing on that individuals rights under the Constitution. The insurance industry is even managing to get the press to raise the banner of their breach of confidentiality.
What we really have here is two large lobby driven special interest groups fighting each other, one of which has their agenda out in the open and on the table, the other hiding their agenda behind something as personal as a visit to the doctor.
I’m sorry, but I do not support your position on this. I believe the NRA is trying to protect my right to privacy and my rights under the Constitution; I’m also keenly aware that the real breach of my privacy is coming from the insurance industry.

Did they respond to you? I doubt it. Kind of like a response I sent my local paper regarding an article they ran about being baffled why crime rate in entire area was down???? My response was: "Do you think it's just a coincidence that crime went down since concealed carry became a law in Minnesota? Do you think maybe that it has something to do with it? Odd that it went down the same time citizens became allowed to carry a weapon to protect themselves." I got no response.:eek:

[bigmacque]

The letter was not sent to the editor but directly to the columnist. The only response so far is that she's out of the office.

I do still respectfully disagree jocko: the question has no business in there in the first place. It's not about what my answer could be would be or will be, it's about the fact taht the insurance industry is fronting the collection of data and making it look like it's the NRA that's invading my privacy.

[LaP]

Right now doctors are being squeezed by the government, their patients, and by insurance companies. The last thing they want is to infuriate their patients with this trivial BS. If your doctor DOES ask these questions, it's because they believe you are not a responsible person. At that point, it's time to find another doctor. Trust is a two-way street.:cool:

[Too Tall Todd]

I'm I. The healthcare biz and I tell you it is not the dr, the hospital? Yea their management rolled over to the beat of the government agency banging the drum. If you refuse to answer or get smart with than I can tell you that it would be a tacit admission of guilt and will be documented as such. Just do as you should and look them in the eye and say "no", just don't drop your primary as you disrobe.

[sharpetop]

My answer is none of your business, none of the insurance company's business, and none of the government's business.

^^^^, What he said!

[Dietrich]

I fired the last doctor who pissed me off and I`m not above doing it again.They love to get up on their high horse with the I am the doctor and you are the patient BS.The actual truth is they are the doctor and I am the customer.If they thought they weren`t going to get paid they wouldn`t give you a breath of air.Hippocratic Oath my ass.It`s all about the money these days.