What a doctor can ask in a physical exam?

rickinnocal

Your relationship with your doctor is a matter of a private contract. If you don't like the way he does his job, take your business elsewhere.

Richard

Madysen S

He can ask anything he wants to. Whether you answer is your decision. If he makes you uncomfortable, do not return to his office. Find another doctor. Remember half of all doctors graduated in the bottom half of their class.

eyellnevrtell

Was there a context for these questions. What else did he ask. I would say if your gut found it to be inappropriate you are probably sensing the correct thing and find them a new doctor.

Mad Max

These are pretty standard questions that most GPs ask now. They may ask you on paper, and sometimes they will ask in person as well.

If it makes you uncomfortable you can of course tell the doctor that. And if the doctor doesn't respect your concerns you can go to a different one.

-------

Wow I am amazed at how many people think that this doctor was out of line. These people probably haven't seen a doctor recently.

During a physical exam, they will sometimes ask things like, do you wear a helmet while riding a bicycle, and do you wear your seat belt.

I've had doctors ask me if I had a gun at home. I've said yes, loaded, and ready to go. Then they want to know if there are any kids that can get access to my weapons, and I say no.

Dr T

the doctor was doing a good job. a lot more things affect someones health and well being than germs.

Megs

They typically ask those types of questions.
(even more so if they have just taken a recent training course to check for different and less common forms of abuse and neglect and even sometimes put down for an anonymous study)

They keep is confidential.

Just part of there job to assure the children's safety at home and to get an idea of what type of environment they live. It is nothing personal against you, just protocol.

Thankfully we live in a world were you can find another doctor if you felt uncomfortable with him. You need to feel comfortable with your children's doctor, otherwise it will not work out.

If you are bold, call him up and ask him directly, express how the questions made you feel and ask him to give you the new regulations and standards on protocol.

------Edit------
I fully agree with Mad Max.

I am also stunned at how many people find this to be "over the line", especially in pediatrics! It makes total sense. Maybe it is because I work in the industry?

And despite what people have said here, it has NOTHING to do with politics! That is just absurd!

raichasays

Sounds like your doctor is concerned about the mental health of someone in your family.

A doctor can ask whatever they want. You don't have to answer. You can find another doctor if you don't like this one.

cjrluvsdnr

From what I am reading, I think it was absolutely appropriate for ethical reasons. The doctor was assessing for the type of home environment and things that have the potential of causing harm to the children or family. I'm guessing he may have asked about smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, smokers in the home, seat belt use, etc. These are common questions primary care practitioners may ask of new patients--especially family docs and pediatricians. Why? For practical and ethical reasons. Studies have shown that patients are more likely to make a change in their behavior if a physician recommends it. For example, a patient loses thirty pounds after his physician continues to hound him to start eating a healthy diet and exercising to get better control of his blood pressure. In another example, a mother of two stops by the hardware store to purchase new batteries for her smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector after being advised to do so by their pediatrician. Both examples have the same goal, which is to improve the patients overall health and well being. How is that so? What if that family was awakened by their carbon monoxide detector the following week (the second example) and safely exited their home? Carbon monoxide poisoning is deadly and the family is now safe because of a simple question asked by the doctor. This is a part of taking care of the whole patient, an art that has been lost due to various reasons.
Parents are responsible for the well being of their children. I am not accusing you of anything, I'm just hoping to help you see the reasons behind the intrusive questions. Does a patient have firearms in the home? Many people like to hunt. The most important part of that question is how are they stored. If they are present in the home, they should be locked in a gun safe so curious or bored children don't have a misfortune with dad's hunting rifle.
I commend your children's doctor for taking time to do this. He's not being nosy, he just wants the kids to have every opportunity to live a safe and healthy life.
Sorry about the length of this! I hope it helps.

It seems to me that the doctor crossed the line.

x=x*+v*t+(1/2)at^2

Ask why he wants to know. If he can't come up with a valid medical reason, find another doctor.

Terry

Those are appropriate - he wants to make sure your children are in a safe environment. You should be grateful he's so caring.

Tom T

If you have nothing to hide do not concern yourself with it. The law today almost requires physicians to ask questions that would have never been asked a few years ago.

no, its fine.
i had a physical back in july and my doctor asked questions like that
"do you have friends?"
"do you get along with your family"
"hows school?"
its just because if you dont have friends or something they want to know why..all my friends doctors did the same. if you didnt like it, leave.

The gun question is brilliant. I don't know what he asked regarding you social life as you were not detailed. He sounds like he's interested in keeping your kids safe by evaluating some risk factors. He sounds like he cares to me

Yak Rider

Some are doing this. Your best bet is to tell the doc to stick to medicine and leave your private business, private.

Dr. Nick

Doctors may ask any questions they want. You are not obligated to answer them in any way. Did he step over the line? Maybe, or maybe he saw something that was alarming to him, who knows.

Isadora530

Actually, in some states the answers to these questions may not be confidential if the doctor senses the child may be in danger and he or she may be required by law to report it to a child welfare authority.

The bigger question is why were you put off? Did you feel it was none of his business or was there something you would rather not divulge (or both). Other factors than just a physical or blood tests do come into play with a child's health (for example, are they bullied at school?). Before answering any question your doctor poses to you that you find weird, you absolutely have the right to ask them why it is relevant. Just make sure you don't sound defensive when you do so. There may be a perfectly innocent reason for asking. Maybe something else happened recently that another one of his patients found a gun and he just wants to make sure everyone is safe. If, after that, you are still uncomfortable, trust your instincts and move on.

Reason

I am a doctor and these questions MUST be asked!!! In fact, IT IS OUR LAWS THAT DEMAND US TO ASK THESE QUESETIONS!!

I am opposed to asking personal questions but WE ARE FORCED TO!!!

I left the state of Pennsylvania recently. One reason was because I was forced to ask personal questions that had no relevence to the patient or the patient's problem. For example, no matter what the patient comes to see me for, I was REQUIRED BY LAW, to ask if my patient was the victim of domestic violence. Even if my patient came to see me for a sinus infection. I always had to apologize to my patients and said that if I didn't ask these questions and DOCUMENT them, that my license was a risk, if ever my charts were audited.

So please don't get mad at us doctors. This is part of the health care crisis. We doctors are just as frustrated as you are, the patient.

Paula

This is part of the new tactics by doctors favoring gun control.

Physicians for Social Responsibility has produced a booklet called "Counseling Patients on Gun Violence Prevention: A Pocket Guide for Physicians and Nurses". The booklet provides advice to medical professionals in talking to patients about risks related to keeping a gun in their homes.

See http://www.senate.gov/~levin/newsroom/release.cfm?id=210074

Basically, this is just another gun-grabber group trying to impose their anti-firearms viewpoint on you and your children by pretending this is a "health" issue.

nivea41176

A doctor can ask whatever he wants. It may seem like this Dr. is a little overboard or pushing the limits but sometimes it's good to have someone that is too much than not enough. Alot of times a child's home or social environment can speaks volumes about his/her health. Make an appt. to go talk to him by yourself and voice your discomfort and find out what he's thinking. You never know you may like his answer.

Charlie C

The doctor was trying to address possible dangers in the home, and if there were any, then he would have given helpful suggestions on making the home safer. Example: parents of toddlers need to make sure medications & chemicals are kept out of reach, electrical outlets covered, etc. Even though it seems like common sense, you wouldn't believe how many parents put their children in harms way. The biggest danger to kids, other then car accidents, are things like choking, electrocution, drowning, playing with weapons, etc. which mostly can be prevented.

yatidteaparty

I think it is crossing the line. Find a good doctor you can trust.

M.C

This is stupid.
You have enough answers so my answer is just my opinion really. But I want to say that....
It's not the doctors job to parent the child or judge you on how you live your life and/or what your choose to keep in your house.
Frankly, whether it is helpful or not, it is none of his business, and not relevant.
ESPECIALLY to a PHYSICAL exam.

Having a gun in a house does not mean anyone is at risk, and asking about guns for the purposes of telling you to lock it up safe (away from kids) is nothing short of insulting your intelligence.

I am against guns but even I recognise having one in a house does not mean anyone is in danger.
For the person who said 'do you wear a helmet while riding a bike' That is a bad comparison. I'm not wasting my time writing any more.

Back to the question: All doctors probably do this now though, so I wouldn't bother switching. Just lie to them 'no I don't have any guns' etc. Tell them what they want to hear basically, and bite your tongue over it. It's for the best

TheOrange Evil

Unless your kid has a gunshot wound, then I don't know what would prompt your doctor to ask. Think hard: did the doctor have any reason to suspect that your kids are in danger? Did you or your children make any comments off hand that could have led the doctor to be suspicious? If not, then the questions were inappropriate. Definitely find another doctor.

Dave Holman

Unless someone was being treated for a gunshot wound, I can't see why he would care. lol.

ckm1956

It's called making sure that the kids are in a safe environment.
For example, if there are guns, are they properly secured?

Sarah Townen

did the doc ask when you were in the room or out of the room? did the questions flow in context/content or were they random?

things like that would be important in putting together my answer

BUT follow your gut, if you are uncomfortable address it or find a new doc
it's for family you call the shots

best of luck

Debra B

He was assessing the safety and social atmosphere of the home as it might affect your children.

Example: guns at home might equal the potential for accidental gunshot by curious kids if gun locks not used.

He probably asked if you wore seat belts or use car seats as well.

victoria_thick_secret

to see if you have weapons of mass destruction.....for real i guess for child safety like cover of the plugs and lock on cabinets with chemical

Ashley

I was asked some pretty odd questions like "Do you have any guns in the home? If so can the child reach it and do you keep it loaded or is the bullets and gun kept in separate places?" and " If a I have anyone living in the home that has ever been convicted of a felony." when me and my daughter started a new doctor. I was shocked that they would even ask such things but I guess they want to make sure the child is in a safe environment.

Lynette S

i am pretty sure doctors cant ask those sort of questions

Prices

How about banning docs from asking any questions at all and just having patients write their problems on paper, doc reads paper n fills out priscription. That will work just fine for everybody n no one would have to worry about going to jail or losing their privacy! Oh, I forgot, most pple won't even be able to write what their problem is on paper! Half of all docs may have finished in the bottom half of their class but they are still smarter than most pple who finish in the top half in college-pretty obvious from most of the comments here!

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