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Peter Cummings, MD, MPH; Thomas D. Koepsell, MD, MPH

JAMA. 1998;280:471-473.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

DURING A VISIT for preventive care, a patient asks, "If I buy a gun, will it increase or decrease my risk of dying prematurely?" What evidence should the physician seek in formulating a response?

BALANCING RISKS AND BENEFITS

A firearm can potentially offer both benefits and risks to the health of its owner. Balancing risks is something that clinicians commonly do in medicine. For example, when considering a prescription for hormone replacement therapy, clinicians must weigh a somewhat higher risk for endometrial cancer against a lower risk for heart disease. Although the pros and cons of gun ownership have been the subject of impassioned debate, using an evidence-based approach to address the patient's question is appealing.

Having a gun in the home might affect the risk of homicide, suicide, or unintentional firearm injury. The risk of homicide might decrease if the gun is used successfully . . . [Full Text of this Article]

From the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center and the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.

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