Took Sweet Daughter in for her annual check-up this morning, and they started in with the questions …
"Any allergies?"
"How much milk does she drink? Whole? Skim?"
"How much time in front of the TV or computer each day?"
"Are there any guns in the house?"
And there was the dilemma. How to answer? Do I tell her it’s none of their damn business? Do I lie? Instead, the professionally dressed (yes! A skirt and heels! On FRIDAY, none-the-less), middle-aged mom shot back with “Of COURSE there are guns in the house! How else am I going to keep her safe?”
There was a pause. And then through gritted teeth: “Are they locked up?”
“They’re secure.”
And then I asked SD to recite the 4 Rules.
“See?” I said. “Firearms are like any other tool in the house. Kids need to be taught to respect them, and how to use them with adult supervision, just like knives in the kitchen, or tools in the garage.”
When we got back to the car, SD said “I wanted to tell her all about my Cricket and my pellet pistol, but I didn’t think that would be a good idea.” Smart girl.
And while I don’t think I have a convert, I don’t think CPS is going to get called, either.
Heh. Well-played.
ReplyDeleteMan that sort of crap makes me boil. You handled it well.
ReplyDeleteWHAT? You have a computer and tv in your house that are not locked up? What kind of parent are you... lol...
ReplyDeleteDann in Ohio
Good job.
ReplyDeleteBut, I would have gone with option #1, as I'm old & cranky.
Although not a lawyer, I believe that the very act of asking that question is a Violation of Federal HIPPA Laws. You might want to check that out.
ReplyDeleteSigh... Yep, you should NOT have answered. None of their business!
ReplyDeleteWhen my 14 yo was 2 I took him in for his checkup and the doc asked if I was teaching him about guns and knives.
ReplyDeleteI told the doc he was a bit short to shoot the Mosin yet but he was hell with a pair of throwing stars.
I got a shocked look, and told him "Ask stupid questions, get stupid answers."
He hasn't asked since.
I love that answer. :)
DeleteLove this answer and I'm going to have to use it next time!
DeleteLis
I just found a doctor that's a gun nut. Problem solved.
ReplyDeleteWell played, indeed. Although my response to the "Are they locked up?" question might have been to ask if he/she was certified in firearms safety and, if not to politely ask him/her to stuff it.
ReplyDeleteBubblehead Les: as I understand it, HIPPA et. al. would only pertain to what the doctor could do with the information afterwords.
ReplyDeleteIt is unquestionably is a violation of medical ethics, specifically a boundary violation.
Les, HIPAA covers electronic and other transmission of protected health information. It doesn't cover what a doctor can or can not ask. It does cover who a doctor can or cannot discuss that with.
ReplyDeleteHIPAA might be one of the most misunderstood (and misspelled) laws of all time.
hga is right in that a patient can tell a doctor (or anyone) that asking that question is a boundary violation.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! No reason to lie about it.
ReplyDeleteI do NOT know if this is true but when I was asked the same question at a recent well child exam I was told that it is now one of the standard required questions under the new healthcare law.
ReplyDeleteThey are either lying or misinformed. Or maybe both.
DeleteLarry, please go to the front desk and pick up your matching set of dueling internets.
ReplyDeleteOur doctor was asking us these questions three years ago. But we got him all flustered with the milk question so he never got to the guns. We drink raw milk.
ReplyDeleteWay to go!
ReplyDeleteGee, my last visit to my doctor ended the discussion about possibly going to IDPA together.
ReplyDeleteMy doctor and I both teach our daughters to shoot so no issue with her. But I'm not sure I would give any information. They'll use anything take guns away. I don't doubt though we're already on a list somewhere,
ReplyDelete