Maduri: Doctors Need To Be Able To Council Patients Freely
FLORIDA – A federal appeals court is considering a Florida law that stops doctors from talking about gun ownership with patients. The law – passed in 2011 – is being legally challenged. It requires doctors to have a legitimate safety concern before they start asking a patient about guns. Doctors who violate the law could lose their medical licenses.
So doctors are silenced. They can’t discuss what they could consider to be a legitimate health danger. Why is this? Because of the power of the National Rifle Association. Thank them for another danger to your health.
Here is the key point that goes directly to my argument Florida is the only state that has enacted such a law, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.Howard Simon, executive director of the ACLU of Florida, said the court’s ruling will have national implications.“If the law is upheld, the NRA will have laws like this introduced in every state,” he said. “If the law is struck down, I think this will put a significant barrier to having this law enacted by other states.”
Does any of this make sense?
Doctors discuss with patients (or, in the case of pediatricians, the parents of patients) the use of seat belts, bike helmets, condoms, and cleaning products in the home. Is there any reason—let alone a compelling one—to prohibit them from discussing one of the leading causes of injury and suicide?
As I said before this is because of the power of the National Rifle Association, the most powerful lobby in Washington. Once again be sure to thank them for another danger to your health.