I think quite a few people feel they’re not in that demographic with those people, they like to think they’ll never be in a situation where they will be facing abuse or exploitation, and thus get insulted by the questions.
But if you’re insulted or offended or put off by someone asking “do you feel safe?” perhaps you should re-examine your assumptions about people who aren’t safe.
These questions are only effective as screening questions if they are actually used to screen everyone. Otherwise, someone who “looks OK” or “seems nice” might be able to continue to get away with abusing someone in their charge. Or someone who is keeping up appearances because society expects that might not say they’re living in unsafe circumstances where, if they did say that, the doctor might be able to put them in touch with community resources that could help them.
As luck would have it, I have hypertension controlled by three medications I take daily. During the visit where the questions were asked my concern was regarding gout symptoms. Had my blood pressure been checked I would have understood, but it wasn’t, I suppose to give them time to discuss guns.
This thread has served its purpose. My gf didn’t think “those questions” were still being asked, now I’ve shown her they are, indeed. I’ll get a short reprieve over making a doctor’s appointment.
They ask EVERYONE those questions. Not just you. You’re not being singled out.
The questions seem odd to you, because they don’t pertain to you personally, specifically. But they only work if they’re asked of everyone.
Think of it this way: are you personally insulted when they x-ray your bag at the airport? No (I hope!) because they check everyone’s bag. It only works if every single bag is checked out.
I’m not insulted or offended, actually. What pisses me off is how hurried the entire visit is already, yet they’ve additionally shoehorned in a bunch of questions, and that information could be handled differently.
When I first arrive at the practice they give you a touch screen to update any information that needs updated. Why don’t they ask those questions there?
And the gun question is too political. I’d happily vote for a candidate promising to repeal the second amendment. We do not need guns really. But since that isn’t happening, yes I have a shottie under my bed. I understand how to use it, I wouldn’t have one if I hadn’t RTFM.
As of now I don’t even have a PCP, and the US healthcare system is pitiful overall. Thanks to everyone for discussing this sore spot with me.
Are you in private when answering these or in the waiting room? Why is it so difficult for you to understand that if someone is being abused, their abuser is likely to be sitting right next to them?
But you do you, and put off going to the doctor because “ermagerd, they’ll take ma guns!”
Ok, different issue, good reasons to be pissed off. All of us are in the same boat in regard to the pitiful state of the US healthcare system. Why don’t you have a PCP though? First, do you need one for insurance purposes? If not then it doesn’t matter if you have a PCP except that it will confuse a lot of medical personnel. And when they ask you about guns or whatever you can just say “It’s not a problem for me”.
Some health conditions can lead to a period of depression. So these questions are asked. I had a former friend who was in for alcohol problems and the doctor had his daughter go and remove the guns from his home while he was still in the hospital. Just as a precaution.
Daughter found some incriminating photos stored in the garage and instead of the guy coming home clean and sober, he went to jail for 10 years. He is out now but family relations are a bit strained.
When I first arrive at the practice they give you a touch screen to update any information that needs updated. Why don’t they ask those questions there?
Because there’s an excellent chance that the person the patient is afraid of will be standing right there. I can just see an 80 year old woman answering the question on the touchscreen that she doesn’t feel safe, as the 60 year old daughter she is afraid of helps her navigate the touchscreen. It’s about as likely as a 14 year old telling the family doctor she’s sexually active while her parent is in the room ( which is why doctors often ask to speak privately to kids over about 13).
You don’t want to answer questions, that’s fine. You decide to forgo medical treatment because you don’t even want to be asked those questions, that’s your prerogative. But that doesn’t mean there’s a better way to do this - however, it does seem that a better way for you to solve your problem is to get a PCP and tell him or her at the first visit that you don’t want to be asked those questions in the future. Doesn’t seem like you’ve tried that.
Wut? I’d be thrilled if everyone’s guns were taken. I just don’t want to discuss it with my doctor anymore than I’d want my grocer to look over what I’m buying and express concern that I need more fiber.
Aha. Been through that with a couple of specialists. It’s just another problem with getting old, your doctors get old too and may retire. There’s pretty much no good side to getting old.
I’m a couple of years older than you and I’m in a similar state. I had both my knees replaced in the last 6 months, lot of pain involved there, but I don’t consider that important because they’re not organs. In the mean time I only have half my kidney function and it’s not going to get any better, I’ve been through a variety of renal related conditions, kidneys affect a lot of stuff. Keeping my blood pressure below “Holy shit!” takes a bunch of medications that slow me down a lot. I have some big gall stones but only minimal symptoms so far, I could get lucky I guess, but I don’t want to recover from any more internal operations, I have lost something more than just pieces of flesh each time. The next major illness will be my last.
Doctors are rarely individuals who work out of their own little office, any more. They are cogs in the Medical Services Machine. They ask the questions they must ask in the manner they must ask them as dictated by higher-ups who probably are insurance company personnel.
Unlike your grocer, they get sued a lot for omissions and mistakes, which can lead to deadly results (again unlike your grocer). They also may feel real bad if they miss something pertinent to someone’s health just because they only are allowed 15 minutes for intake and the patient wanted to talk about his gall bladder and didn’t bring up his alcoholism, or his crazy wife stockpiling arms in the attic. Both of which happen to directly bear upon his life expectancy.
When I went in to get a new set of prescriptions in 2019, I had no idea there was anything seriously wrong with me. Three months later, as a result of that visit, I was in hospital getting a CABG and two valve repairs.
A doctor who has remained up to date in her field is the most likely to ask these more holistic questions. I envy you the quality of your medical care, if you have a physician who takes the time for interaction with patients. That will, on average, produce far better results than a dismissive, hurry-up-and-get-out-of-here assembly line approach.
I don’t remember being asked about guns myself, and I definitely don’t think I’ve been asked if I “felt safe”, but I do think I’ve been asked if I live with anyone, so maybe the feeling safe question may have been asked later on if I had I said I live with someone.