Change Of Plans

[.357cal]

Living in a rural county, it is not uncommon to find it necessary to drive an hour or more to a metropolitian area that offers more amenities than found in the local setting. Such was the case for me late last week.

I had to drive about 45 miles to a radiology clinic for evaluation of leg pain. (Rarely do I leave home without being armed. I fully expected to be returning home after my visit to the clinic.) The ultrasound scan revealed that I had a blood clot behind the left knee. The clinic contacted my physician who advised that I go to the emergency room of a hospital just up the street from the clinic for evaluation of the severeity of the medical problem.

During the medical evaluation it became clear that I was going to be admitted to the hospital. (I should mention that I was still dressed in my street clothing. The medical evaluation was based on my answers to pertinent questions, the images from the ultrasound scan and the potentially serious repercussions that would occur should the clot break loose.) I advised the attending physician that there was another problem. I informed him that I had a concealed weapons permit and that I was armed. He appeared shocked and stammered, saying something to the effect, "You mean right now?" After repeating that I was legally armed the physican stormed from the exam room. Moments later a hospital security guard (unarmed & unsworn) entered the room. I also informed her of my status, showed her my permit and my identification. She advised that i would need to surrender my weapon. I then drew my gun, unloaded the cylinder, removed my holster and speed laoders and gave them all to her. She also took my permit and DL to make copies for their records. I requested a receipt for the items. She then left the room.

A short time later a security company lieutenant arrived on scene with a pillowcase containing the gun and related items. We did a complete inventory of the items, including each individual cartridge, and all items were placed in a numbered, dark gray plastic bag which was then sealed. I was given a receipt and told the items would be locked up in the hospital's safe and would be released to me upon discharge. The inventory was done in a casual and matter of fact way. During the inventory process we engaged in small talk. The lieutenant stated that the usual weapons taken from patients were knives and he could recall only one other instance where a firearm was involved, when a correctional officer was admitted from the ER.

After treatment and observation I was released the following afternoon. Retriving my firearm and related items was also done in the same casual and matter of fact manner. Upon my request, the hospital staff provided me with a bag that allowed for discreet removal of the firearm from the building.

At no time was local LEO involved in this situation. It is my belief that if I hadn't had a permit, I would have been arrested. Had I have known that I would be admitted to a hospital I would have left my gun home and avoided all the hassle.

[louva]

Glad to see another good encounter, two in two days.
You never stated what the results of the tests were. Hope everything turns out well.

[.357cal]

Originally Posted by louva

Glad to see another good encounter, two in two days.
You never stated what the results of the tests were. Hope everything turns out well.

Thanks for asking. I was put on blood thinning medication to aid the flow of blood around the clot and to help dissolve it. Due to increased coagulation time I must be cautious about engaging in physical activities that could cause injury and/or bleeding. Other than that I'm good to go. No driving restrictions with the car or my Harley.

[Justaguy]

I work in a hospital.
Your hospital followed a reasonable protocol.
Patients have their valuables inventoried and are given the option of:
1. Keep their valuables with them (strongly discouraged)
2. Look up their valuables in the safe
3. Release the valuables to a family member.
The only difference is one of the valuables was a firearm so the hospital involved their security department. Makes sense if the person inventorying the firearm is unfamiliar with firearms.

Next time, do one thing differently.
Don't Tell the doctor. Tell the nurse when they inventory your belongings.
The docs are generally clueless about anything except medicine.
Your ER nurse has likely "seen it all"...

[1buba]

Only thing I see here that I question - as I read it anyway, was that they took your firearm, then came back with it to inventory it...
I'm curious about what "legal" rights they have to do that, or should you have maintained possession until they inventoried it and given you a receipt.

Not saying the OP did anything wrong, it just "feels" wrong to give up the firearm to an unknown person (even if they are "security"). Not that a receipt would make a lot of difference. Just curious.

[NocturnalDoc]

Originally Posted by Justaguy

Don't Tell the doctor. Tell the nurse when they inventory your belongings.
The docs are generally clueless about anything except medicine.
Your ER nurse has likely "seen it all"...

Ahem. Yeah, good advice. From the definitive authority, who "works in a hospital."

I hope everyone else ignores that asinine comment.

[Justaguy]

Originally Posted by NocturnalDoc

Ahem. Yeah, good advice. From the definitive authority, who "works in a hospital."

I hope everyone else ignores that asinine comment.

Sorry, Doc, if I offended you.
Curious as to how times you've inventoried patient belongings.
I can't count the number of times I have in the almost 30 years I've spent in California's second busiest ER....

So, yeah, I "work in a hospital"...

[1buba]

Originally Posted by NocturnalDoc

Ahem. Yeah, good advice. From the definitive authority, who "works in a hospital."

I hope everyone else ignores that asinine comment.

Really? What got your panties in a bunch?
Lousy response Nocturnal.

[mark]

Originally Posted by 1buba

Really? What got your panties in a bunch?.......................

maybe a lack of elasticity in the waist band and a sudden gasp for air?

[Tom98915]

Originally Posted by 1buba

Really? What got your panties in a bunch?
Lousy response Nocturnal.

Originally Posted by mark

maybe a lack of elasticity in the waist band and a sudden gasp for air?

[NocturnalDoc]

Originally Posted by Justaguy

Sorry, Doc, if I offended you.

Really? What got your panties in a bunch?
Lousy response Nocturnal.

Gentlemen,

Please accept my sincere apology for a truly lousy post.

Judging by the time I posted, I was post-shift, tired, and should have been asleep. Makes for some thin skin, apparently. Regardless, there's no excuse for my own asinine comment.

Justaguy, my jab at you and your professional experience was uncalled for, and unjustified.

Moving on, and in an attempt to bring this thread back on topic... In my shop, if the OP had declared his CCW to one of the docs, instead of a gasp the response would likely have been a show and tell, and invitation to the range. Not all docs are clueless.

Panties unbunched.

[1buba]

Originally Posted by NocturnalDoc

Gentlemen,

Please accept my sincere apology for a truly lousy post.

Nicely done. apology accepted.

Now about those panties...

[Justaguy]

Originally Posted by NocturnalDoc

Not all docs are clueless.

True, good point.
No harm done.


And now for the WORST joke ever (and it only works with your user name):
"Don't quit your day job!"

[XD40SC]

Originally Posted by Justaguy

True, good point.
No harm done.


And now for the WORST joke ever (and it only works with your user name):
"Don't quit your day job!"

Good one! Wish I'd have thought of it first!

[Bald Biker]

When I carry, I always have a lockable case in the car that I can secure my firearm in case of emergency. When I go to a doctor, it stays locked up so that it never becomes an issue