British Medical Association plans to "tag" medical

[Tim Nunan]

The coroner who conducted the inquest into the deaths of Christopher Foster, his wife Jill and their daughter Kirstie in Shropshire called for changes in the way shotgun and firearms licences are issued and renewed.

The British Medical Association (BMA) and Association of Chief Police Officers have discussed ways in which doctors can be made aware of patients who own firearms.

The BMA's plan to "tag" - or highlight - the medical records of patients who have shotgun or firearms licences have received a mixed reaction.

Last August Bank Holiday Mr Foster killed his wife and 15-year-old daughter before setting fire to their home at Maesbrook, near Oswestry, and killing himself.

It emerged at the inquest into the deaths that Christopher Foster had been suffering from depression and had mentioned suicidal thoughts to his GP.

This prompted Mid and North Shropshire coroner, John Ellery to recommend a closer link between the medical profession and the police, who issue gun licences.

In the last few days the British Medical Association (BMA) has said it is about to update its ethical guidance on firearms.

The plan is that medical records would remind the doctor the patient either held a firearms or shotgun certificate, or had applied for one.

'Absolutely wonderful'

The Gun Control Network was set up after the Dunblane tragedy in 1996 when 16 children and an adult were shot by Thomas Hamilton. It campaigns for tighter controls on guns of all kinds.

Spokeswoman, Gill Marshall-Andrews described the new guidelines as "absolutely wonderful".

She said her concern was for the risk faced by the families of gun owners: "If an individual commits suicide, that is a matter for him, but if he is going to kill his family, it is a very different matter."

Mrs Marshall-Andrews said the Gun Control Network was very supportive of the move by the BMA, but would like consultation with partners and ex partners made a requirement for the granting of licences.

The new guidelines have also been welcomed by the charity, Infer Trust, which offers support and advice to people affected by gun violence.

Spokeswoman Chrissie Hall said: "Anything that makes life safer for individuals who live in a house where there is a weapon, Infer Trust would be keen to support."

Mrs Hall said she had been in contact with the Foster family and put them in touch with other people in similar situations.

Mrs Hall felt that tagging patients notes was a good thing: "I can't imagine why that wouldn't be supported by GPs who are there to care for their patients."

However, the mental health charity, Mind, does not share Infer Trust's views and fears the new guidelines will further stigmatise people with mental health problems.

Spokeswoman Katie Prior said: "The link between violence and mental health problems is often grossly exaggerated. Any tragedies that do occur are terrible, but it's important to recognise that such cases are rare."

She said people with mental health problems were extremely unlikely to be dangerous: "In fact, research shows that they are are more likely to be the victims of crime than the perpetrators."

More at link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/engl ... 217854.stm

[ProguninTN]

Ah, government health care. The doctors become spies for the government, and serve the government rather than the patients. Anybody up for Obama care ?

[Rbtama101]

This is a very dangerous topic, in my opinion. If this were to catch on in the U.S., we could be in for some serious trouble. Example - California decides smoking is bad, ban it from restaurants....then they banned it from entrances of buildings, then they banned it from gatherings, parks, malls and the buildings themselves, then they banned it in your own home if you lived in an apartment complex or condo and your neighbors are a certain distance....THEN they banned it while in your own car if children are in the vehicle with you, I mean COME ON.

Imagine this, California decides that YOUR gun ownership is a health risk for you and your family? Or someone else's family? Sounds nuts but who would have guessed that a simple smoking ban in California 15 years ago would have spread ALL over the Country! Scary.

Still trying to figure out a way to break California off at the fault line and watch the show.

[SomeGuy]

Not new in America. As is, both medical and nursing ORGANIZATIONS are left-wing. Not just anti-gun, but downright leftist. There is a reason that this RN refuses membership in those ratty organizations. You really don't want to know the kind of disgraceful lefty feminist types who run the TNA.