Yes.

I thought it was obvious that a doctor also has some prerogative to refuse to take some people as patients.

Two way street.

Should the doctor not have that capability to deny service for such situations?

I think it is stupid, but nothing criminal or illegal.

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"Try to become not a man of success, but try rather to become a man of value."
Albert Einstein

here is a little more info. There is more out there somewhere.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/563487_1

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"Try to become not a man of success, but try rather to become a man of value."
Albert Einstein

Noooooo....

You specifically mentioned "they can refuse to answer or find another doctor" but you did NOT mention the fact that can be punished for doing so...For that, we had to go to the link to find that out...

...unless you knew that already and just wanted the forum members to figure that part out themselves...

That's like saying "Sure you can rob a bank!" without saying that little fact that it'll cost them some time in prison (Obviously not as bad, but you get the point)...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

Seriously???

You needed me to tell you that a doctor could choose to refuse service?

I honestly assumed that was already recognized. A LOT of businesses are allowed to refuse service for a lot of trivial reasons.
I had assumed common knowledge.

Did you think there was a law or something stating otherwise?


I like your example.

Common knowledge.
You think that type of disclaimer is necessary?

I thought it obvious.

Do you think a poll of the readers would show that such a disclaimer would be necessary, and not just painfully obvious?

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"Try to become not a man of success, but try rather to become a man of value."
Albert Einstein

Glad to hear it myself. If I had a doctor, it would be none of his business.

I think the fine is excessive and 5 years is too harsh. It should be a misdemeanor though. But doctors should be barred from asking irrelevant and political questions. A doctor asking such questions creates the atmosphere that if you do not share the doctor's political views then he or she may not properly treat you, not treat you all or misuse that information and creates an issue of mistrust between the doctor and patient.

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"There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”—Theodore Roosevelt

On the other hand, this might be a perfectly legitimate question for a doctor treating a severely depressed patient, especially if that patient is a minor living in the home.

Also, I can picture a solid Conservative doctor treating a recently divorced woman who has been the victim of sever domestic violence if she has a gun in the house, by which he means that he thinks that she darn well better.

I keep coming back to the idea that doctors, even more than judges are expected to exercise supreme good judgment.

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“Quod scripsi, scripsi"

"Sometimes, the source of the beautiful dawning light that drives back the darkness, is your house burning"

Simple work-around for the doctor, he/she can simply ask,
"Do you have any weapons in your house?", followed up with "What kind?" if the answer is affirmative. The doctor now has the answer and didn't ask if they own a gun.

That same thought crossed my mind.
In some circumstances, it would be good for the doctor to know, and then maybe offer counsel on the matter.

When I was injured some 13 years ago and I was set to go home the doctor advise I have home care and physical therapy. I agreed and when the people who set up the home care came to see me the day of my release from the hospital they asked about firearms in the home. I refused to say yes or no, I told them it was none of their business. They then told me they could not come out to the house. I ended up going to therapy at a different hospital and it was set up by my own gun totting doctor.

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Courtesy of Swissman

A gun in the hands of a free man frightens and angers the autocrat, not because he fears the power of the gun, but, rather, the spirit of the man who holds it.

ANONYMOUS