# Are Doctors still asking odd (to me) questions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 17, 2021, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133 "2021-02-17T15:37:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/141 "2021-02-22T00:46:58Z")
> [@jerseymule](#): > > The fact that you are in your late 60s and have health issues is probably the reason that they ask if you’re able to care for yourself without assistance. I am in the same situation as you regarding age and health, and though I’m able to care for myself now, it’s getting much more difficult to cut my own toenails. Just a little less flexibility and I might be unable to do a lot of other necessary hygiene-related tasks. I figure it doesn’t hurt to ask a question. I’ve never been asked the question about guns in the house though. I did later understand why it was done, and certainly don’t have any problem with that sort of thing now. BTW, I’m been having trouble keeping my toenails trimmed for a while, and finally decided that it’s worth the money to go in for the occasional pedicure (in fact, I’m about due for another now). Besides, it feels so good to be pampered! > [@puzzlegal](#): > > If you want to get a long exam from someone who is really interested in your issues, go to a teaching hospital. I go in for relatively routine stuff, like having a dermatologist examine my hide. And i get some fourth year medical student looking really carefully, because he hasn’t done this a gazillion times and he’s actually interested. Then the experienced doctor comes by and also examiners my skin, answering both my questions and the questions of the medical student. > One of the times I was hospitalized they asked if I would mind having a group of medical students come by to examine me. Definitely an interesting experience. And occasionally when I go in for a checkup they’ll have a student do the initial exam, and then my regular doctor comes in so the student can report what they did and how I responded. > > One of the nice things about UNC Healthcare is that the appointments are never rushed. My doctor takes as much time as he feels he needs and he’s always willing to answer any questions. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/142 "2021-02-22T01:21:12Z")
I’ll give it from a doctor’s viewpoint. I go over many basic questions on the first visit and when I do a complete physical. There are also questions that I ask with a Medicare wellness check. This includes asking if a patient feels safe at home as well as about guns in the home. I follow up by asking how they are stored and if a patient responds “I keep them loaded and ready for use” I make sure that they are aware of the basic rules of gun safety. I also ask if they wear their seatbelts, if they have smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes and if they wear sunscreen daily. I tell them it’s my job to make sure that they know about all of the simple things that can keep them healthy. I also ask older people about stairs and throw rugs in their homes since these are fall risks. The biggest pushback I get is on the gun question. If they ask “Why do you need to know that?” I tell them that guns in the home are a health risk, that I don’t need to write down an answer and I just want to make sure that they are aware of gun safety. I also get pushback on the carbon monoxide detectors because people are convinced they only need them if they have gas heating. The one question I often leave until a later date is sexual orientation because that is something that people are less comfortable with initially. However, if I do a full physical I will ask and I also ask about preferred pronouns. You would be surprised at all the relevant information you will not know unless you ask. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/143 "2021-02-22T15:10:26Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > hearing (a whisper test), My OP has been answered and my perspective is changed a bit. I have severe hearing loss and even with my hearing aid turned up to eleven I still have to work hard to understand speech. So, what is a “whisper test”? I’d likely totally miss that a doctor was whispering, especially if their face was blocked or they were facing away from me. But if I caught them whispering I’d be offended. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/144 "2021-02-22T15:20:37Z")
The idea of the whisper test is to see if they need a referral. You say a simple command while out of direct sight to test the hearing in a setting like an ER where there is little fancy equipment for that. It may offend you, but should be prefaced with what you are doing. ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/145 "2021-02-22T15:23:33Z")
I assume that everyone knows that when the doctor asks you “Do you have guns in the home?” and you respond with “That’s none of your business.” or “I’m not going to answer that question.” then the doctor knows that you do have guns in your home because is you didn’t you would have simply responded with “No.” ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/146 "2021-02-23T05:17:37Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The first was “do you have guns in your house” or something similar. I answered, “that’s none of your business”. Then it was “do you feel safe in your home?”. I lost it. I was there wanting to find out if my foot pain was caused by gout, which was what my googling had come up with. 1. routine question about safety, suicide risk, other injury risk. 2. A chance to find out if someone is in an abusive situation. A couple years back, my son had some stomach crud which caused his food to vacate the premises. He took a nap, and when he woke up, he had chest pains. Almost certainly due to strained muscles, but the nurse on the help line told him to go to the ER anyway just in case. I will tell you this: even if you’re 23, when you go to the checkin desk and say “chest pain” they whisk you right on back. He’d already had an EKG by the time I finished doing the paperwork. When i went back to sit with him wile they were checking his labs, at one point a doctor or nurse asked that very “do you feel safe” question. I stepped out of the room so he could answer honestly. As I left in my own car, not one with a flashing light on the top of it, I presume he said he was not in danger at home… ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/147 "2021-02-23T11:12:53Z")
Considering that your cooking sent him to the ER, it was pretty nice of him not to implicate you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/148 "2021-02-23T12:37:26Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > The biggest pushback I get is on the gun question Heh. I would push back on the sunscreen question. I’m dubious the stuff is safe to use every day, i suspect it’s routine use also contributes to ubiquitous low levels of vitamin D, and there are lots of other ways to avoid sunburn. I have very pale skin, and haven’t been burned since i was 20. I will use sun screen of I’m going to the beach, or someplace else where i can’t find shade and can’t wear long sleeves and a hat. But that’s a handful of days a year. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/149 "2021-02-25T23:35:25Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > If you take a quick look at posts 19, 44, and 68, you’ll see that I agree with you and and that the post you’re responding to is actually meant as sarcasm. I thought lines like “…I sure won’t be cursing the real culprit: me” were tip-offs, but apparently they were too subtle. Sorry about that. > > You must have thought I was being sarcastic when I told Quadcop he has my sympathies and respect, but he really does. He had them before, but this thread boosted both considerably. You must of thought I was responding to you, but I was merely speaking of my own experience. I get impatient and am short with people because, can’t they see my issue? but in fact, I need reminding to be patient. I shared this because I thought others might be interested in my experience. Then again, maybe not. Sorry for the confusion. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/150 "2021-02-26T01:53:30Z")
No problem, no worries here. If I misunderstood, I owe you an apology. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/151 "2021-02-26T13:58:33Z")
I went with my wife to a doctor. She was sitting at a distance as I took care of business. When I went back I was asked the “do you feel safe at home” question. When this was over, my wife talked about the person who took me back (and asked the question). About 15 years ago (before my time) they were involved in a situation with a man. The lady at the doctor’s office had called my wife-to-be at home and threatened her. If I had known that beforehand I might have answered differently - “I feel safe unless you start calling again”. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/152 "2021-03-01T21:19:34Z")
> [@chela](#): > > then they want an urine sample from the child because well we’re screening for diabetes. We complied once, next time they asked I put my foot down said NO. The kid is slender, not chubby or even a teensy bit plump, skinny really and without any symptoms or concerns from me but they just want to check. BS! Well, if the kid DID have diabetes, chances are (s)he would have been LOSING weight - you aren’t able to use the carbs in your diet, so you start burning muscle and fat. That’s what happened with a friend’s child who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at about age 11. She’d been feeling under the weather for a week or so, she got very sick just as they got home from vacation, they took her to the doctor - and an hour later were in the ER because her blood sugar was through the roof. She’d lost something like 15-20 pounds over the course of the summer. Type 1 diabetes is simply NOT linked to obesity the way type 2 is. Whether routine urine testing is appropriate, I can’t say - my kids were never asked for it, and I think this isn’t something that “simmers” for months before going critical, but I could be wrong on that. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/153 "2021-03-01T21:33:51Z")
I’ve been with a female family member at the doctor and they asked her if she feels safe at home, but I was in the room. I’m not sure the staff understands why they are asking that question, the whole point is the patient should be asked that privately. 🙄 I wouldn’t at all appreciate doctors asking me if I have guns in the house. None of their business. I don’t fear guns because I understand them, but [I do fear doctors/hospitals.](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/22/medical-errors-third-leading-cause-of-death-in-america.html) ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/154 "2021-03-01T23:26:23Z")
Yeah, as it turned out it was a routine screen that office started doing at all their well child checks. But if I had any concerns about unexplained weight loss , fatigue, frequent urination / accidents etc etc you bet id be in the docs office to find out what’s going on and would absolutely expect bloodwork, urinalysis etc etc. Scoliosis screening was something they never thought to do until I brought it up with a nurse who seemed startled and then had to go ask what that entails. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/155 "2021-03-02T01:24:23Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Yeah, as it turned out it was a routine screen that office started doing at all their well child checks. But if I had any concerns about unexplained weight loss , fatigue, frequent urination / accidents etc etc you bet id be in the docs office to find out what’s going on and would absolutely expect bloodwork, urinalysis etc etc. And for the next parent who knows exactly zero of the stuff you just mentioned? Who but the clinic pulling a urine sample will ever know the kid’s on the road to a critical blood sugar emergency? It’s easy to forget just how friggin’ clueless our fellow citizens are. The questions are aimed at the WAG 80%th percentile oblivious ill-educated stupid person. IOW everybody in the waiting room who’s not you or me. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/156 "2021-03-02T21:25:41Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I wouldn’t at all appreciate doctors asking me if I have guns in the house. None of their business. I don’t fear guns because I understand them, but [I do fear doctors/hospitals.](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/22/medical-errors-third-leading-cause-of-death-in-america.html) 1. since guns are a health & safety risk it is their business. 2. understanding guns doesn’t keep you from being injured by one, as far as I know. So I find your pointlessly pugnacious attitude pretty irrational. A key difference between guns and doctors is that guns are _supposed to_ hurt or kill you, that is the only reason they exist. Doctors are the exact opposite. This is regardless of your emotions or thoughts about them. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2021, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/157 "2021-03-03T00:59:19Z")
1. So are swimming pools, stairs, people, vehicles, and a hundred other things. Guns are just a big scary thing that some people chomp at the bit to ban. 2. If you own or handle a gun then understanding them will absolutely make you safer, and it’s ignorant and irresponsible to own a gun and not understand it. Even in the extremely unlikely event that you find yourself on the wrong end of a gun, understanding them could be helpful, knowing whether the safety is on, whether it’s cocked and ready to fire, how many rounds it typically holds, how long it takes to reload, and so on. Even if doctors/hospitals aren’t _supposed_ to kill people, they do, and in much greater numbers than most other things. If a hospital kills me whether it was intentional or not doesn’t seem that important, and they want to grill us about one particular inanimate object that’s none of their business? I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2021, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/158 "2021-03-03T01:58:04Z")
There are many just and rational ways to destroy your arguments, but I believe that not only would that be a thread hijack (although this thread is kind of designed for hijacking), but you would remain tenaciously unconvinced, like all the other gunhuggers, and the waste of spirit on my part would depress me. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2021, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/159 "2021-03-03T02:28:49Z")
Prejudicial pejoratives like “gunhuggers” are getting less and less popular as more citizens believe that police are not always their friends and that everyone should have the option of responsibly exercising their Constitutional right of self defense. Gun control has historically been a racist measure used against minorities. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2021, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-doctors-still-asking-odd-to-me-questions/933133/160 "2021-03-03T09:37:24Z")
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