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Congressman and psychiatrist Jim McDermott says some of President Obama's gun proposals pose an ethical dilemma for mental health workers. (AP image)

Psychiatrist Congressman Jim McDermott faces ethical dilemma in gun debate

BY Josh Kerns  on January 17, 2013 @ 10:53 am (Updated: 11:52 am - 1/17/13 )

President Obama's proposal to require mental health professionals report to authorities when they think a patient is a shooting threat is posing a difficult ethical dilemma.

Washington State Congressman Jim McDermott has a unique perspective. He's a longtime psychiatrist who has championed numerous gun control measures during his over 20 years in Congress.

"It triggers a very difficult situation for a psychiatrist, in that you are giving the patient the protection of anonymity and security and not saying anything at the same time you have a responsibility to the public," McDermott said in an interview with Seattle's Morning News.

McDermott has treated a number of patients who've said threatening things at one time or another. But the challenge for a mental health professional is determining if they're really dangerous.

"Very often in marital disputes or job difficulties or all kinds of things people make statements and you have to make a judgement about whether they are real or they are just blowing off steam," he said.

New proposals including legislation passed this week in New York would authorize law enforcement to seize firearms from patients reported as potentially dangerous. Those that don't would be added to a criminal background database and prohibited from buying guns.

McDermott insisted he would always report someone if he felt they were a danger regardless of whether it's the law or not. But there's plenty of opposition to making that a requirement.

"The idea of a federal bureaucrat or your own doctor sharing your information with a federal bureaucrat I think is something that would worry a lot of Americans," said Congressman Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.).

McDermott said President Obama was wise to issue a number of executive orders around some of the most controversial gun measures he announced Wednesday rather than trying to convince a sharply divided Congress to approve them.

McDermott is confident Congress will ultimately pass at least several potentially controversial measures including a limit on the number of bullets in a magazine, mandatory background checks for all gun buyers and an assault weapons ban.

"I say that today we can get the votes if the people press the members of Congress. It's not a partisan issue. It's not Democrat or Republican. It's how you view protection and safety in a society."

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (23)


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  • kato1967 wrote...
    That's Rich!
    January 17, 2013 1:08 pm
    Baghdad Jim McDermott in an ethical dilemma! ha ha ha ha!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    McDermit is a head shrinker?
    January 17, 2013 1:41 pm
    How much you wanna bet he would be the first one to report someone to the government about a patient who owns guns?

    Can you say Soviet Union!!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DesertRez wrote...
    Just wait
    January 17, 2013 2:32 pm
    until - similar to the Do Not Fly list - they start a Do Not Buy list! On depression meds? No gun for you my friend.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ernie in the East wrote...
    This article is seriously lacking credibility
    January 17, 2013 2:40 pm
    Josh Kerns must be kidding us when he talks to Baghdad Jim about anything. Do you really want to be taken seriously? Jim believed an Iraqi dictator over his own country, sat down with said dictator and talked, and was easily re-elected to Congress after the visit and misinformation given to the American during and after the visit. He has no credibility as far as I'm concerned to talk about anything worth while.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    And just what IS his dilemma ? He presents himself as a professional.
    January 17, 2013 2:40 pm
    HIPAA rule should prevent him from disclosing confidential doctor/patient information. .. After all, who is going to seek help if some information is NOT confidential ? ..... Should we also allow police taps of confessionals?

    Oh, but I forgot McDermott has already violated Congressional ethics. So what's professional ethics to him???????

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    McDermott has already violated Congressional ethics -
    January 17, 2013 2:45 pm
    fake news talking point?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mike Hunt wrote...
    I remember reading about this guy growing up
    January 17, 2013 3:27 pm
    Violating federal wire tapping laws - long before the Baghdad Jim moniker appeared. It surprises me that in such a far left area, that usually rally's against this, that he is even still around
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    Add Josh Kerns...
    January 17, 2013 4:57 pm
    to the littany of leftist MyNW writers. This site should be renamed MyLeftistPolitcs.com
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    It's Worth Adding...
    January 17, 2013 5:01 pm
    that of all the gun stories published on MyNW over the last several days (well over a dozen), this is the only one (I recall, anyway), that cast some doubt on the proposed legislation or the executive orders bestowed upon us by Dear Leader. A story about Jim McDermott's supposed ethical regrets! That's just too rich, right there! Unbelievable...sort of.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • irony wrote...
    with guns banned ...
    January 17, 2013 6:31 pm
    seattle could become the murder capital of the usa.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }