"In 2004 there were 105 kids under 18 died in accidental gun shootings. In that same year 55 died of adverse medical reactions. If 105 deaths is enough to make our medical professionals spy on our private homes, then those same professionals should be held to the same scrutiny for the danger they pose to our kids."
Just like in Iraq when 3000 soldiers die but 25,000 are maimed by injuries that aren't lethal, how many of the kids who get injured because of guns do not die as a result of those injuries and skilled medical professionals? Bring us a statistic for that because I say that numbeir is higher. As for spying, wouldn't a spy, be definition have to report their findings to someone i.e. law enforcement or someone else. If a kid is being threatened with gun violence by their parents then yes it would be a doctors duty to report that. It would also be the doctors duty to determine and inform patients on the risks of risky behavior. Whether that is conversations between the child/doctor, child/parent/doctor conversations, or parent/doctor.
"it is not a stretch to envision a militant anti-gun doctor lidging allegations of abuse/neglect against a parent whose child reported them for gun ownership."
Ok, lots of things strange here Gid. First how is is that anybody could be militant yet also anti-gun? I'm not sure I understand that to not be mutually exclusive. I believe
it is a stretch to envision anyone who is a medical professional reporting abuse/neglect merely for "gun ownership".
Gun ownership is not a crime.
Suicidal adults consuming alcohol and playing Russian Roulette is a dangerous behavior, Playing with guns is a dangerous behavior. Children + loaded unlocked guns in a house = dangerous behavior. See above stat posted by someone else to see that it is not only plausible but common enough that statistics are kept on the figure. What inspires kids to do this, in my country Cops/Robbers, toy guns, media exposure, G.I. Joe, Power Rangers, School shootings, all sorts of influences on children, and then as kids mature teenagers begin to develop the "indestructible mentality"
"The truth is, we HAVE become everything we hated about Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia in too many ways. In George Bush's America, it is not inconceivable that a dissident could be whisked away in the middle of the night (Gitmo, anyone? All we have to do is label them a "terrorist, and bingo! Civil rights go *poof*!), and the government goes on TV BEGGING citizens to turn in their neighbours for even the suspicion of wrongdoing (most notably in the areas of CPS/Domestic "terrorism")."
That's an opinion, I think we also hated the slaughter or Jews, and pseudo science telling some in society that they are the master race, we haven't gotten to that point by a long stretch. Take a deep breath, stay on topic, i.e. asking about guns in the Dr. Office, lay off the cable news networks a bit, you are going psycho on us here Gid. Nobody is calling anybody a terrorist, nobody is taking away your civil rights in the DR's office.
"There is no Amercan more pathetic than those who use their freedoms to rob others of theirs!!!"
Would you be saying I'm a pathetic American, because I'm using my freedom of speech to support doctors asking kids some questions about risky behaviors that they might not be comfortable asking in the presence of their parents. If that's what you were/are saying, then thats fine I'm comfortable with your opinion. If that's not what you are saying, please clarify because I don't get it.
Who's being robbed of what?
"it is only yelling when you type in all caps. Typing key words in caps is emphasizing them."
Yelling, how can anyone truly yell in words that are written. Unless they finish each statement with, "yelled he". The yelling part is as much in your head as the letters are to form words. That writing in capital letters should offend some people, because lowercase is the accepted etiquette, is silly.
"You might want to watch your mouth, DannyBoi. Or would you prefer to follow jennifer's disappearing act?"
Did I say something untrue? Were you not trolling? Are you not a censor? I'll watch my mouth if you watch yours, a skill you have yet to demonstrate comprehension of. I'm not sure why you think it is fair or reasonable to launch personal attacks and expect me not to respond in kind, Or to inform others of your ways, which clearly you see nothing wrong with or you'd make an effort to change.
I have never asked you to not have an opinion only to own up to it, and not claim it isn't what it is. Racist, censor, hippocratic, un-Democratic, un-American, or trolling WhippyGirl.
I have yet to see anyone dispute that teenagers do dangerous things and participate in risky behavior. While it may be that some teenagers have a relationship with their parents that would permit them to give the exact same answers to questions in front of their parents, or in confidence with their medical professional, it is equally plausible that many teenagers do not have that relationship, trust, understand, and freedom from fear or retribution. In fact it is more then likely because of those "at the risk" that the questions are asked in confidence.
Maybe the real problem is not understanding the value of sacrificing some of your privacy for the safety and well being of your children and children in general. If you don't want them asking about guns, maybe you don't want them asking about sex, or drugs, or glue sniffing habit, or asking about a very obscure habit of lighting matches. Those are invasions of privacy as well and if the intentions of doctors is suspect in those cases explain the difference to me as to when its ok for doctors to ever ask a question that might invade your privacy?
While you are in a doctors office you aren't a teenager you are a patient and medical professionals under the Hippocratic oath are sworn to provide the same standard of care regardless of their patient's circumstance. Whether that makes you uncomfortable or not.
It may also be true that most parents are responsible, yet clearly it is also the case that some parents are not, and a doctors legal and ethical responsibility is to the patient not to the parents of a patient.
There are plenty of times when doctors are just trying to do their job the best they know how and have to put up defenses against litigation, alleged malpractice for example. I really don't think they have any interest in getting farther into the legal system by exposing themselves to further areas of legal attack, if the benefits of asking simple questions to their patients were not clear.
I could be wrong.