Jason Rogers

Doctors for Sensible Gun Laws

Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page - 2nd Amendment Supporters

FIREARMS SAFETY COUNSELING REPRESENTATION:
PHYSICIAN QUALIFICATIONS AND LIABILITY
Part One: Qualifications
I affirm that I am certified to offer (Name of Patient: ), herineafter referred to as
"the Patient", qualified advice about firearms safety in the home, having received:
Specify Course(s) of Study:
__________________________________________________ _______________________
from:
Specify Institution(s)
__________________________________________________ _______________________
on:
Specify Course Completion Date(s):
__________________________________________________ _______________________
resulting in:
Specify Accreditation(s), Certification(s), License(s) etc.:
__________________________________________________ _______________________
__________________________________________________ _______________________
Check one, as appropriate:
___ I represent that I have reviewed applicable scientific literature pertaining to defensive gun use and beneficial results of private
firearms ownership. I further represent that I have reviewed all other relevant home safety issues with the Patient, including those
relating to electricity, drains, disposals, compactors, garage doors, driveway safety, pool safety, pool fence codes and special locks
for pool gates, auto safety, gas, broken glass, stored cleaning chemicals, buckets, toilets, sharp objects, garden tools, home tools,
power tools, lawnmowers, lawn chemicals, scissors, needles, forks, knives, etc. I also acknowledge, by receiving this document, I
have been made aware that, in his inaugural address before the American Medical Association on June 20, 2001, new president
Richard Corlin, MD, admitted "What we don't know about violence and guns is literally killing us...researchers do not have the data
to tell how kids get guns, if trigger locks work, what the warning signs of violence in schools and at the workplace are and other
critical questions due to lack of research funding." (UPI). In spite of this admission, I represent that I have sufficient data and
expertise to provide expert and clinically sound advice to patients regarding firearms in the home.
OR
___ I am knowingly engaging in Home/Firearms Safety Counseling without certification, license or formal training in Risk
Management, and; I have not reviewed applicable scientific literature pertaining to defensive gun use and beneficial results of
private firearms ownership.
Part Two: Liability
I have determined, from a review of my medical malpractice insurance, that if I engage in an activity for
which I am not certified, such as Firearms Safety Counseling, the carrier (check one, as appropriate):
___ will
___ will not
cover lawsuits resulting from neglect, lack of qualification, etc.
Insurance Carrier name, address and policy number insuring me for firearms safety expertise:
__________________________________________________ _______________________
I further warrant that, should the Patient follow my firearm safety counseling and remove from the home and/or disable firearms
with trigger locks or other mechanisms, and if the patient or a family member, friend or visitor is subsequently injured or killed as a
result of said removal or disabling, that my malpractice insurance and/or personal assets will cover all actual and punitive damages
resulting from a lawsuit initiated by the patient, the patient's legal reprerentative, or the patient's survivors.
Signature of attesting physician and date: __________________________________________________
Name of attesting physician (please print):___________________________________________ _______
Signature of patient and date: __________________________________________________ __________
Name of patient (please print):___________________________________________ _________________
Patient: Indicate if physician "REFUSED TO SIGN." Have physician place a copy in your chart/medical record.

__________________
"The price of freedom is the willingness to do sudden battle anywhere, any time and with utter recklessness." -Robert A. Heinlein

Divebum47

Absolutely. Because it is not!

__________________
"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups"

HITCH KING

It is amazing what you learn of this on board. I learnt the Rugergirl doc has 3 nuts.

To OP: Did the doc think you had lead poisoning?

hopeitsfast

Gotta go with Rugergirl, but i'm sure putting NA or NOYFB is the same as answering yes.

Spoonee

Interesting replies. I appreciate the enthusiastic responses.

I guess a couple things are to be considered in thinking about the subject and said replies. I, in particular, only ask or counsel about such issues (and I do include drowning and fire safety in the pediatric visits) at preventative visits. Meaning, someone has specifically come to my office to ask my advice as to how to be and stay healthy. If someone comes in with a bad ankle sprain, I promise the subject will never come up. However at physicals the point is to prevent death and disability. We cannot leave just "fix the broke things" as has been suggested. If that was true we would wait until the breast cancer has fungating through the skin before we talk about detection or suggest someone lower their cholesterol only after the heart attack. That's like the range officer going over safety rules after someone gets injured. It doesn't make sense.

Second, as a physician I am an expert in what kills people. I've been there countless times as they try and die. Anyone who has ever tried to resuscitate a 3 year old who was found floating in an unattended pool is qualified to suggest to other parents not to leave the pool unattended. Remember I'm not suggesting that we banish pools just make sure 3 year olds don't fall in.

Finally I would say that my role always is one of your adviser. I believe what the Proverbs say is true in that "In the counsel of many is wisdom." I wish to give wise counsel. Whether the patient wants to follow it is of their own accord. If you don't have a good relationship with your physician I would suggest you find new one. There are plenty of us out there that really want to walk through all the good times and bad times with our patients helping them navigate the difficulties. I know I take all the time that is needed at any visit.

Anyway, thanks for the responses.

MP45Man

Wow! I didn't envision this thread having so many responses. I was going to say no or leave it blank. But then I got to thinking. I'm not sure my doc looked at the last one I filled out because I answered some questions on there about my medical history that I would have assumed he would have asked me about. He didn't. So, I figure I would say YES to the question and see if it came up on subsequent visits. Then I would probe for the real reason he was asking. He might then get a NOYFB response.

Also, anybody have the source for the stat regarding the percentage of teenagers killed by guns that Spoonee mentioned? I have not seen that stat before.

QKShooter

"On one of the forms it asked me if I had a gun in the house."

I would have answered "NO" and I would have been telling the truth because I do not have "a" gun in the house.

I have a whole bunch of them in the house.

Oh...And...BTW: ~ I have one in your waiting room right now too.


Actually my own Doc is cool on firearms & he has really helped me out with my shooting related Tinnitus.

rmccoll

I think the paranoia arising from being questioned by doctors results from an attempt by (I think, Massachusetts) to use drs interviews as a source for keeping track of the guns in the state.
I don't remember if it was ever enacted but I do remember the suspicions that were aroused by the idea.

jbum

Spoone welcome to the forum.

I really hope you are not my doctor as I live in East Tn. Whether I wear a set belt or not has nothing to do with my physical health, if what you say is true why not ask what kind of jeans I wear or do I use 1 or 2 ply toilet paper. When the "gobment" takes over health care they will have access to all your medical records do I really want to make it that easy for them to tell I am a gun owner?

__________________
PT145 MIL PRO
MOSSBERG 500 CRUISER
S&W 638
THUNDER .380
NRA MEMBER

CTurner91

I read about this being on doctor forms awhile back. They're going to increase health care prices to unreasonable levels for gun owners. It will be deemed reckless to own a firearm and you'll be considered a liability because of lead, risk of accidental discharges or some such nonsense. It's about as asinine as things come but there you go. The sheep will lap it up of course...

It's just another way to disarm people imo. Keep your guns or cure your sick kid, even with insurance you won't be able to afford medical care if you're a gun owner.