Physicians, Patients, and Firearms
Authors: Robert B. Sklaroff
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2016)

Letters20 December 2016Physicians, Patients, and FirearmsRobert B. Sklaroff, MDRobert B. Sklaroff, MDFrom Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L16-0545 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Inasmuch as litigation on gun control pends before the Supreme Court of the United States, the focus is properly trained on slippery-slope rhetoric subtly embedded in (and omitted from) discussion of what is portrayed as inherent in the patient–physician relationship. Wintemute and colleagues suggest that an initial physician query “might simply be, ‘Are there any firearms kept in or around your home?'” (1). No. The topic should be gently introduced the same as other concerns, such as tobacco use, namely by asking, “Would you like to discuss … ?” Nonpejorative phrasing is welcoming without being intrusive; the ...References1. Wintemute GJ, Betz ME, Ranney ML. Yes, you can: physicians, patients, and firearms. Ann Intern Med. 2016;165:205-13. [PMID: 27183181]. doi:10.7326/M15-2905 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. QuickStats: death rates from suicide* for persons aged 45-64 years, by black or white race and sex—United States, 1999-2008. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 13 January 2012. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6101a6.htm on 5 August 2016. Google Scholar3. CDC finds suicide rates among middle-aged adults increased from 1999-2010 [press release]. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2014. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2013/p0502-suicide-rates.html on 5 August 2016. Google Scholar4. Weinberger SE, Hoyt DB, Lawrence HC, Levin S, Henley DE, Alden ER, et al. Firearm-related injury and death in the United States: a call to action from 8 health professional organizations and the American Bar Association. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162:513-6. [PMID: 25706470]. doi:10.7326/M15-0337 LinkGoogle Scholar5. Sklaroff RB. Onslaught of “scientific” support for gun-control laws is flawed [online comment]. 14 April 2015. Accessed at http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2151828 on 5 August 2016. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Disclosures: Authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L16-0545. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoYes, You Can: Physicians, Patients, and Firearms Garen J. Wintemute , Marian E. Betz , and Megan L. Ranney Physicians, Patients, and Firearms Garen J. Wintemute , Marian E. Betz , and Megan L. Ranney Metrics Cited byFirearm Research Must Not Presuppose Outcome 20 December 2016Volume 165, Issue 12Page: 892-893KeywordsConflicts of interestDisclosureFirearm injuriesMotivationNative American peopleSuicide ePublished: 20 December 2016 Issue Published: 20 December 2016 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2016 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...