Hello. I'm Dr Arefa Cassoobhoy, a primary care internist, Medscape advisor, and senior medical director for WebMD. Welcome to Medscape Morning Report, our 1-minute news story for primary care.
Gun violence is a serious public health problem, and physicians have a responsibility to address firearm-related injuries and death. That's the basis of an updated policy statement from the American College of Physicians (ACP).
Advocating to reduce gun violence is not new for the ACP. They put out a call to action with multiple other organizations in 2015 that was ultimately endorsed by over 50 groups. The current, wide-ranging statement speaks not only to physicians, but also to state and federal lawmakers, community mental health officials, medical schools, firearm manufacturers, gun owners, law enforcement, and the courts.
The ACP recommends gun regulations that, while consistent with the 2nd Amendment, will do much to protect the American public from gun injury and death, whether accidental or purposeful.
In an editorial,[1] health professionals are urged to begin by discussing gun safety as it relates to health rather than to politics.
Clinicians can ask, "Do you have guns in the home?" If the answer is yes, follow-up discussion should address the storage and security of firearms, the education of children about firearms, and safety measures when handling guns to prevent unintentional injury. Fellow physicians, don't stay silent on firearm violence.
Follow Dr Cassoobhoy on Twitter at @ArefaMD
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COMMENTARY
Don't Stay Silent on Firearm Violence
Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH
DisclosuresDecember 06, 2018
Hello. I'm Dr Arefa Cassoobhoy, a primary care internist, Medscape advisor, and senior medical director for WebMD. Welcome to Medscape Morning Report, our 1-minute news story for primary care.
Gun violence is a serious public health problem, and physicians have a responsibility to address firearm-related injuries and death. That's the basis of an updated policy statement from the American College of Physicians (ACP).
Advocating to reduce gun violence is not new for the ACP. They put out a call to action with multiple other organizations in 2015 that was ultimately endorsed by over 50 groups. The current, wide-ranging statement speaks not only to physicians, but also to state and federal lawmakers, community mental health officials, medical schools, firearm manufacturers, gun owners, law enforcement, and the courts.
The ACP recommends gun regulations that, while consistent with the 2nd Amendment, will do much to protect the American public from gun injury and death, whether accidental or purposeful.
In an editorial,[1] health professionals are urged to begin by discussing gun safety as it relates to health rather than to politics.
Clinicians can ask, "Do you have guns in the home?" If the answer is yes, follow-up discussion should address the storage and security of firearms, the education of children about firearms, and safety measures when handling guns to prevent unintentional injury. Fellow physicians, don't stay silent on firearm violence.
Follow Dr Cassoobhoy on Twitter at @ArefaMD
Medscape Internal Medicine © 2018 WebMD, LLC
Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Cite this: Don't Stay Silent on Firearm Violence - Medscape - Dec 06, 2018.
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Authors and Disclosures
Authors and Disclosures
Author
Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH
Medical Editor, WebMD
Disclosure: Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.