obamacare- doctors ask if you own guns ... Thx Ramey H!

Yes folks this is really the sad truth. This was sent to me by a friend who is a retired Medical Doctor and Aviation Medical Examiner so many will know who this is. Just another example that ObummerCare is one of the most dangerous pieces of legislation to come by in years, possible forever!         29/2013 5:04:00 PM Your doctor might ask if you own guns

By GARY ABERNATHY Publisher/Editor-in-Chief If I had not heard the following directly from someone I know, I would have written it off as another ultra-rightwing, Obama-hating conspiracy tale with little foundation in truth. I would have considered it the typical fodder found in a National Rifle Association fundraising letter, or a promo for the next broadcast from Hannity, Beck or Limbaugh.  But this is no far-right lunatic anecdote. This is true. A female acquaintance told me that when she went to her doctor in Clinton County earlier this week - a typical general practitioner medical doctor - at the end of the usual litany of "routine" health inquiries came a question which left her momentarily speechless. As usual, the nurse took the patient's blood pressure, checked her temperature, and asked things like, "Do you smoke?" and "Do you drink?"  Then, the nurse asked, "Do you own any guns?" Yes. Let us repeat the question. The nurse asked of a patient who was there for a checkup, "Do you own any guns?" When the patient recovered from her shock, she asked why on earth such a question would be asked. She told the nurse that whether she owned any guns or not was none of her business.  The nurse replied, "We have to ask you that, under Obamacare." The nurse also agreed it was none of her business, but said the question was now being asked of all patients. The nurse said she was advising everyone to just answer, "No." I have tried not to be the kind of conservative who considers Barack Obama the devil incarnate. He is well-intentioned and sincere, I have believed, and I have tried to reflect that belief when occasionally visiting Obama-related topics in this space.  Even though I disagree with nearly everything the president seems to believe politically and philosophically, I honor the office of the presidency and do not share the feeling that just because Obama does something, it must automatically be the wrong thing to do. But this, friends, this crosses the line. I took some time to research the subject and, sure enough, it seems that among a number of executive actions signed by the president earlier this year was one which encouraged doctors to seek the gun information from patients, and it becomes nearly a requirement as Obamacare is phased in. Mind you, these questions are not just coming from psychiatrists or psychologists seeking such information from depressed or possibly suicidal or homicidal patients, which might seem reasonable. These questions are being posed by family medical practitioners to all of their patients, in adherence to the guidelines of the Affordable Care Act. The fact is, the NRA and other groups successfully managed to get language inserted into the Affordable Care Act that seemed to prohibit doctors from asking patients about guns. But the Obama administration believed the language was filled with loopholes, and, accompanying an executive order by the president earlier this year was a White House-provided "fact sheet" that encouraged doctors to seek patient information about gun ownership. The fact sheet said, "Doctors and other health care providers also need to be able to ask about firearms in their patients' homes and safe storage of those firearms... Some have incorrectly claimed that language in the Affordable Care Act prohibits doctors from asking their patients about guns and gun safety... The Administration will issue guidance clarifying that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit or otherwise regulate communication between doctors and patients, including about firearms." The follow-up "guidance" provided by the administration has apparently flat-out directed doctors to include inquiries about gun ownership in their conversations with patients.  According to various first-hand accounts found online, doctors are asking the question in different forms. Some are asking flat out, "Do you own any guns?" Others are asking, "Are you concerned about unsecured weapons in your home?" Still others inquire, "Are you worried about the dangers of guns in your home?" Of course, asking patients in Highland County whether they own any guns is like asking them whether they breathe oxygen. Doctors here could save themselves time by just filling in that answer before talking to patients.  Or they could just file a report to the government asking for an exemption, explaining, "We practice in Highland County, Ohio. Everybody owns a gun." In fact, the concern here would be focused more on anyone who does not own a gun, than anyone who does. Not that anyone has to worry about being any more honest with their doctor on the gun question than they are on any other question their doctor asks. As far as my doctor knows, based on my answers, I've cut back on smoking, I've eliminated cheeseburgers from my diet, and I walk two miles a day. If my doctor believed my answers to the usual questions, my general precarious health would be quite the medical mystery. The sad thing is, what this all reveals is that the Obama administration views guns as a health hazard. The administration views gun ownership in the way that most people view disease, injury and illness. Owning guns is something that needs to be cured, like diabetes or heart disease.  It is unsettling enough to make me consider attending a Tea Party meeting, and not just to report on it.  Gary Abernathy is publisher of The Times-Gazette. His columns appear on Tuesday and Friday. He can be contacted at gabernathy@civitasmedia.com.