As a side note listing things like occupation and hobbies can help aid the physician in diagnosis and treatment. As an example my father in law just had to get an MRI but due to him blacksmithing as a hobby they had to do something other than an MRI, as the magnets could move particles of metal in his eyes leading to blindness. Something to think about while you are hoarding useless info from your doctors.
It is important to not miss the little things in taking a history, the above for an MRI is a great case in point. Dietary supplements are another often missed "thought" that can get you in trouble, excessive bleeding times to be specific. The issue of weapons in the home have been "square fillers" in many HMO's, and facility based practices. How the question is asked is a bit of an "art", to get the point across without igniting hostile reactions. Is your doc really going to make any difference in the way you look at weapons in the home? Is an answer going to bring black choppers and battering rams to your home @ 0200hrs ? Probably not. Most firearms are purchased with full background checks, and in some states, only with a license. I doubt that any new information is going to be gleaned by asking if weapons are in the home. Is it worth asking the question at all, and can it have saved a life or two ? I can think of a cases where a doc might just have made a difference. The disturbed lad that took the lives of his mother, school children, and his own, is a case where the lad's doc might have made a difference. Did he ask, I don't know, but if he did, Mom was not impressed.
So, should doc's ask about weapons in the home? I think it should be explored in homes that have children. I believe it should be asked in cases where mentally challenged people are involved. The challenge, is in just how do you bring up the question, the "art" of discussing something personal. The practitioner is not asking for the governments interest, are they? Practitioners ask some pretty delicate questions, and people seek care for sexually transmitted diseases all the time. Why would you not trust the same person with information about weapons in the home? Doc's care about you, and your life, that is the whole point; or am I missing something here.
OK, off the soapbox. Fire away, I listen pretty good. By the way, I own long guns, handguns, have a CCW permit, and carry most of the time.