The Massachusetts Medical Society and state Attorney General Maura Healey partnered to boost education on gun safety, according to an announcement made at Boston Medical Center on Feb. 13.
Through the partnership, the organizations will release educational materials to help physicians conduct beneficial conversations with patients about the safety risks associated with having a gun in the home and strategies to mitigate these risks,
The educational effort was endorsed by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association and the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police. The educational materials include informational pamphlets on gun safety, a Continuing Medical Education training program and a free educational video on the subject.
"Gun violence is a major public health threat and physicians can play a key role in curbing the violence by educating patients about the risks of gun ownership and encouraging our colleagues to talk to their patients," said James Gessner, MD, board-certified in anesthesiology and pediatrics and the president of the medical society. "We are honored to work with the attorney general and law enforcement officials in efforts to make gun ownership safer and reduce deaths and injuries attributable to guns."
More than 30,000 people die every year from injuries related to firearms, according to the CDC. To view the resources made available by the partnership, click here.
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