The American College of Physicians (ACP) has urged its internist members to get more involved in the prevention of gun violence.
In the February 1 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, the ACP advised members to counsel patients on handgun use and safety, support community efforts to reduce firearm injuries, and endorse legislative and regulatory measures to reduce gun violence. "Efforts by physicians to prevent firearm injury must be as vigilant as efforts to encourage seat belt use a decade ago," said ACP President William A. Reynolds, MD.
In its new position paper, the ACP also pointed out that by 2003, gun violence is expected to surpass automobile crashes as the leading cause of traumatic death in the United States, and that the number of firearm deaths in this country has increased by 60% from 1968 to 1994.
In the same issue of the Annals, the . . . [Full Text of this Article]
