Bill forces report of gunshot wounds

If a Spokane-area doctor treats an injury that he or she suspects stems from child abuse or domestic violence, that doctor is required to report the injury to police immediately.

Yet if someone walks in with a gunshot wound, the same doctor is under no obligation to call law enforcement.

In fact, some nurses and physicians are concerned that if they do report a patient with a gunshot injury, they risk a lawsuit for violating confidentiality.

State lawmakers intend to change that.

On Tuesday, the House Health Care Committee considered a bill requiring health care providers to report gunshot or knife wounds to police; the person making the report would be immune from liability.

Rep. Don Cox, R-Colfax, signed his name to the bill.

"I was a school superintendent for a number of years, and we have that responsibility on any child abuse," Cox said. "I was surprised to find out that wounds, where weapons are involved - physicians don't have that same responsibility."

Cox said the bill would free doctors and nurses from adhering to patient-confidentiality privilege in the case of gunshot and knife wounds.

Ellie Menzies, from Service Employees International Union representing registered nurses, testified in favor of the bill.

"If a person showed up at a school with gunshot wounds, after you had taken care of the wound, certainly you would want to know who did it. Is the person with the gun still at large and dangerous?" she said.

Health care workers feel the same need to address the health and safety issues in their community, Menzies told the committee.

"You just don't think twice about it in another environment, but in health care you do," she said. "To feel free to report it without liability is the main concern. A gunshot wound is a stunning event no matter where it happens."

Robb Menaul, lobbyist for the Washington State Hospital Association, said he supports the concept of the bill but with reservations.

"For one, including knife wounds is too broad," he said.

If someone cuts a finger while carving a turkey, Menaul said, it shouldn't warrant a call to the police.

The prime sponsor of the bill, Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, D-Normandy Park, admits the bill needs fine-tuning, but said the intent is clear.

"You walk into a health care provider having been shot, you call the police."

Schual-Berke said most people think it's already a law.

"I assumed it was," said Cathy McMorris, R-Colville, who sits on the Health Care committee with Schual-Berke.

McMorris is not alone. Even Whitman County Prosecutor James Kaufman was surprised.

There is a reporting requirement on gunshot wounds, but not to police. Doctors are required to report monthly to the Department of Health the number of gunshot wounds they treat. The data are used for statistical purposes only.

Copyright 2001 Cowles Publishing Company
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.