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ACP urges physicians to discuss firearm safety with patients

Physicians often encounter individuals who later commit firearm violence and many of these individuals have “well-recognized” risk factors, which presents physicians with an opportunity to conduct interventions and discuss safe fire arm behaviors, according to the ACP.

To date, more than 1,000 physicians have signed a formal pledge to talk to their patients about guns, counsel them on firearm safety and in the case of imminent danger, take further and immediate action.

“Even if just one firearm fatality or injury is prevented because a doctor talked to an at-risk patient, then I would consider the signature campaign effective,” Christine Laine, MD, MPH, editor-in-chief of Annals of Internal Medicine, said in a press release.

The campaign, aiming to raise awareness and stress the important role that physicians have in addressing this public health epidemic, began after the mass shooting in Las Vegas and gained traction again after the most recent mass shooting in a Florida public school.

Physicians often encounter individuals who later commit firearm violence and many of these individuals have “well-recognized” risk factors, which presents physicians with an opportunity to conduct interventions and discuss safe fire arm behaviors, according to the ACP.

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To help physicians initiate a conversation with their patients on guns, gun laws and gun ownership, Annals of Internal Medicine has compiled resources on their firearm-related content.

The ACP urges physicians to take the pledge here.