Conversation starters
Most popular
Bonneville Seattle is raising funds for the construction of a second Fisher House at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma and we need your help.
Psychiatrist Congressman Jim McDermott faces ethical dilemma in gun debate
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 is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.
-
andy123 wrote...Let's let the government get more involved with our private lives.January 17, 2013 6:43 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
- Report this as abuse
-
Mavila wrote...Better Yet...January 17, 2013 8:21 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
-
Snout wrote...How about we all report on each other.January 17, 2013 10:08 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
- Reply
- Report this as abuse