Doctors fear risks over firearm law medical assessments

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Doctors fear risks over firearm law medical assessments

Doctors are raising concerns about losing patient trust as opposition grows against tough firearm law reforms.

Some West *********** GPs are declining to take part in firearm health assessments to decide whether gun licence holders are physically and mentally fit.

They say the state reforms create ethical and professional dilemmas, legal risks and put a strain on doctor-patient relationships.

The laws came into effect in late March.

They were bolstered in the weeks before they passed parliament in June 2024 after Perth mother Jennifer Petelczyc and her daughter Gretl were murdered by a man searching for his ex-wife.

They were shot dead with a handgun at their home by the registered firearms owner before he took his own life. He owned 13 guns

The WA opposition has seized on growing concerns over the changes, launching disallowance motions in parliament this week.

“Everybody knows we want less guns in the community, but we also support police and doctors who’ve said the current regulations are unworkable,” Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said on Wednesday.

Mr Zempilas rejected assertions the motions would delay the regulations, saying Labor had the numbers in parliament.

Police Minister Reece Whitby said the decision to oppose the reforms was “madness” and a risk to public safety.

He said the legislation contained legal protection for doctors who undertook assessments.

The Royal *********** College of General Practitioners WA said clinical judgments about firearm owners’ physical and mental health presented ethical and professional challenges.

“It’s very important that we and our patients have a relationship based on trust, where we and our patients feel we can be honest and transparent with each other,” deputy chair Mariam Bahemia told AAP.

Dr Bahemia said GPs were also concerned they could be called to justify a clinical decision in court when a long time has passed or a patient’s circumstances had changed.

“GPs feel the weight of this new responsibility,” she said.

Some WA Police officers have also reportedly raised concerns about the laws and how the compliance systems to regulate them have been rolled out.

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