What Can Physicians Do to Prevent Firearm Violence?

Physicians should routinely ask patients about firearms in their home and whether guns are locked and safely stored, writes James S. Kahn, M.D., a professor of medicine at Stanford University, in aneditorial published today in theAnnals of Internal Medicine. The editorial was published alongside aposition paper from the American College of Physicians on reducing firearm injuries and deaths in the United States.“Firearm-related violent death is an extraordinary problem made even more alarming by the prevalence of guns in the households of persons with dementia and the variation in firearm injuries related to racial disparities,” Kahn writes. “Yet, many physicians have been unengaged or silent during this epidemic. Why? Perhaps we think firearm violence is outside our realm of influence.”Yet Kahn says physicians routinely ask patients about their unsafe activities, risky exposures, and addictions. “Nicotine abatement programs, alcohol reduction plans, and HIV prevention efforts begin with questions … about a person’s behavior and are successful when physicians provide information to empower patients, motivating them to prevent disease and avoid disability or death. Guns should be no dif ferent.”Kahn recommends the following advice to patients about creating a safe environment when guns are in the home: Remove the ammunition from the gun and lock the gun in a secure location.Lock the ammunition in a separate location from the gun.Store the keys in a differen...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: Annals of Internal Medicine firearm violence gun safety guns James S. Kahn Source Type: research