Legislation Prohibiting Physicians from Asking Patients about Guns

Several states have recently considered legislation that effectively prohibits physicians from asking patients about firearm ownership. In 2011, Florida passed the Privacy of Firearm Owners Act, which prevented the state's medical personnel from asking patients about gun ownership, documenting information concerning firearms in a patient's medical record, and denying care for patients who refuse to answer questions about gun ownership. This article considers the legislation's constitutionality and its implications for public health, clinical standards of care, and medical ethics.