title: Firearms, mental illness, dementia and the clinician.
abstract: Clinicians have an obligation to report to state or territory police any concerns about risk of harm from patients with access to firearms. Dementia is an under-recognised medical problem which may increase the risk of firearm injury or violence in those with such access. There are no guidelines for clinicians regarding mandatory screening for access to firearms, and currently the onus is on the firearm licence holder to declare any relevant medical conditions. We propose that clinicians should screen patients for firearm possession and use a combined capacity and risk assessment approach to evaluating fitness for firearm licences.
authors.affiliation: Older Persons Mental Health Service, St George Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. a.wand@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Anne P F
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Wand
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Carmelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peisah
authors.affiliation: Specialist Mental Health Services for Older People, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Julie-Anne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Strukovski
authors.affiliation: Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brodaty
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005389:Firearms / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D018580:Mandatory Testing; D016743:Mental Competency; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010819:Physician's Role; D010820:Physicians / Q000941:ethics*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control