Is there any profession which is so dedicated to non-violence and "to do no harm" to others and particularly to those they serve? I am thinking about a priest or reverend or rabbi or others supporting their God. I am also thinking about a physician. I found an interesting website (Brainblogger) and article regarding doctors and their access to guns either within or outside their office. There are also present a number of visitor comments and it seems that the majority find acceptance with regard to doctors having guns for self-protection and protection of their offices.
But, what about the professional ethics of carrying a gun with the intent to shoot and most likely kill someone as a response to a threat to ones own life? Should doctors have some higher duty "to do no harm" if such harm could be prevented by not having a gun readily available? ..Maurice.
p.s. On the other hand. Here is another view of doctors and guns which has been seen on various websites but I don't vouch for all the statistics presented. However, I guess there are different ways of looking at the doctors and guns issue.
Doctors
(A) The number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000.
(B) Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year are 120,000..
(C) Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171 (17%).
Statistics courtesy of U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services.
Now think about this:
Guns
(A) The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000. (Yes, that's 80 million !)
(B) The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is 1,500.
(C) The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is .0000188 (.00188%)
Statistics courtesy of the F.B.I.
So, statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.
Remember, 'Guns don't kill people, doctors do.'
FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN, BUT ALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR.
Please alert your friends to this alarming threat. We must ban doctors before this gets completely out of hand!!!!!
P.S. - Out of concern for the public at large, I have withheld the statistics on lawyers for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek medical attention.
