Darby Medical Center Shooting Prompts Question -- Should Doctors Carry Guns To Work?
By KYW medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Primum non nocere. Above all, do no harm. It's safe to say that many physicians, nationwide, have this philosophy.
But should a doctor be permitted to carry a gun in the workplace? The question is being raised by many after the events that occurred Thursday at a wellness facility in Darby, Delaware County.
Many, if not most, hospital facilities and teaching facilities prohibit workers, including physicians, from carrying guns, limiting weapons to security officers.
Certainly, it's difficult to tell if a person is carrying a concealed weapon, but the vast majority of doctors don't bring weapons into the workplace.
Doctors are trained to defuse hostile situations when possible and to call or signal for security if there are any concerns. In addition, police officers are on heightened response by potentially dangerous situations, in hospitals.
