A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that a Florida law that discourages physicians from asking patients about guns is constitutional, despite doctor warnings that such questions are vital to their work.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court decision that invalidated the 2011 law, advocated by guns rights groups. The law says that "unless information is relevant to patient's medical care or safety or safety of others, inquiries regarding firearm ownership or possession should not be made." It allows for disciplinary action against doctors who violate it.
"We find that the Act is a legitimate regulation of professional conduct," the appeals court wrote in its 2-1 decision. "The Act simply codifies that good medical care does not require inquiry or record-keeping regarding firearms when unnecessary to a patient’s care."
"It is not a physician's business whether his or her patient chooses to exercise their fundamental, individual right to own a firearm," Chris Cox, president of the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement praising the decision.
The law met strong resistance from doctor groups, which filed the lawsuit to overturn it. They have argued that it violated doctors' First Amendment rights and infringed on their responsibilities to their patients.Read the rest of the story HERE.
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1 comment:
When they asked me at the VA I thought it was to note whether you could be a candidate for suicide. I know it sounds crazy, but I guess it would qualify to know your ability to cause an incident while visiting a clinic or hospital. Doesn't bother me, but it bothers some people. Anyway, you can tell them what you like, yes or no.
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