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Let's Join the Lane: The Role of Infectious Diseases Physicians in Preventing Gun Violence

Crystal Zheng1, David Mushatt1

  • 1Section of Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Open Forum Infectious Diseases
|March 19, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Gun violence impacts infectious disease physicians, who manage gunshot wound complications. This specialty must engage in gun violence prevention advocacy and join other medical societies in addressing this public health crisis.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Advocacy

Background:

  • The National Rifle Association (NRA) publicly criticized physicians for discussing gun violence.
  • Physicians responded with the #ThisISOurLane campaign, highlighting their experiences with gun violence.
  • Infectious diseases physicians frequently treat complications from gunshot wounds, such as osteomyelitis and infected wounds.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the significant, yet underrepresented, role of infectious diseases physicians in managing gun violence.
  • To advocate for the Infectious Diseases Society of America to join other medical organizations in addressing gun violence.
  • To call for infectious diseases physicians to actively participate in the gun violence prevention dialogue.

Main Methods:

  • This is an opinion piece and call to action, not a research study.
  • It analyzes the current landscape of medical society engagement with gun violence.
  • It draws upon the experiences of infectious diseases physicians in treating victims of gun violence.

Main Results:

  • Infectious diseases physicians are integral to managing the consequences of gun violence.
  • The specialty has been largely absent from national discussions on gun violence prevention.
  • Over 80 medical societies have endorsed gun violence prevention, but the Infectious Diseases Society of America has not.

Conclusions:

  • Gun violence is a critical issue for the infectious diseases community.
  • Infectious diseases physicians should actively engage in advocacy and policy discussions.
  • The Infectious Diseases Society of America should formally commit to gun violence prevention efforts.

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