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The top doc in DoD wants to overturn a 2013 law that “prohibits DoD leaders, including commanders and health providers, from inquiring about or recording any information on private firearms owned by troops.”<\/p>\n
“As a physician, the relationship between my patients and I is … sacred. We talk, and I expect him to be truthful with me so I can help him. Anything that interferes with that interferes with good medical care,” Martinez-Lopez said.<\/p>\n
A 2011 law prohibited the DoD from collecting any information on firearms ownership among service members who don’t live on a military installation (members who live on base are required to register any privately owned guns with base officials).<\/p>\n
Repealing the provision was among the more than 100 recommendations issued in a report last month by the DoD Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee to reduce suicides among service members and dependents.<\/p>\n
“It’s not good for either of the parties. If I don’t know, I can’t help you. If you cannot tell me, even worse,” Martinez-Lopez said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Must be getting dusty in here, I am shedding a tear – or even two – at the doc’s selfless pursuit of patient care. But wait:<\/p>\n
Section 1057 of the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act further clarified the 2011 law, allowing military and civilian DoD health officials to ask about firearms ownership or possession, but only if they believe a service member is at risk for suicide or causing harm to others. <\/em><\/strong>(emphasis added – ed.)
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nOtherwise, commanders and doctors can’t ask about gun ownership, access and safety — questions that are a key part of DoD and Department of Veteran’s Affairs’ officials’ efforts to promote safe storage of weapons as a strategy to reduce suicides.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n