Citation

Wand AP, Peisah C, Strukovski JA, Brodaty H. Med. J. Aust. 2014; 201(11): 674-678.

Affiliation

Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Australian Medical Association, Publisher Australasian Medical Publishing)

DOI

10.5694/mja13.11318

PMID

25495316

Abstract

Clinicians have an obligation to report to state or territory police any concerns about risk of harm from patients with access to firearms. Dementia is an under-recognised medical problem which may increase the risk of firearm injury or violence in those with such access. There are no guidelines for clinicians regarding mandatory screening for access to firearms, and currently the onus is on the firearm licence holder to declare any relevant medical conditions. We propose that clinicians should screen patients for firearm possession and use a combined capacity and risk assessment approach to evaluating fitness for firearm licences.

Language: en