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Citation |
Kahn JS. Ann. Intern Med. 2018; 169(10): 725-726. |
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Affiliation |
Stanford University School of Medicine and VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California (J.S.K.). |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2018, American College of Physicians) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
30383121 |
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Abstract |
This issue of Annals includes an important position paper from the American College of Physicians on reducing firearm injuries and deaths in the United States (1). The updated policy paper and its appendix provide a mountain of evidence on the serious, epidemic-level crisis of firearm violence. Firearm-related violent death is an extraordinary problem (2) made even more alarming by the prevalence of guns in the households of persons with dementia (3) and the variation in firearm injuries related to racial disparities (4). Yet, many physicians have been unengaged or silent during this epidemic. Why? Perhaps we think firearm violence is outside our realm of influence. Like others, health professionals do not realize that firearm suicides are more common than firearm homicides; indeed, a second article in this issue documents this misconception (5). I am left struggling with this question: What can I do as a physician to reduce gun violence in an effective and efficient manner? It turns out that we can do what we normally do: We can speak with our patients about gun safety in their homes ... Language: en |