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changes to HIPPA laws in the US would go a long way towards making data available to predict potential issues. In many states, purchase of a weapon requires th

by tmaly 11y ago

changes to HIPPA laws in the US would go a long way towards making data available to predict potential issues. In many states, purchase of a weapon requires that you state you are not clinically depressed. Due to HIPPA laws, there is no way to verify this. Also, there was a story on HN recently about the results of studies on certain psych meds that were hidden by the companies producing the medicines. If a medicine causes a violent reaction, it would make sense to know if someone on the medicine is trying to purchase a weapon. Again the HIPPA laws in the US prevent this.

DanBC 11y ago
Most perpetrators of mass shootings (more than 4 people shot) do not have a diagnosable mental illness. Certainly most of them are not taking psychiatric meds. Have you looked at each perpetrator of the nearly 300 mass shootings in the US this year?
- tmaly 11y ago
  kid from Newtown was on meds
  - DanBC 11y ago
    That's one person. How about the other 293 (real number, not an exageration) mass shootings this year?
    - matt_s 11y ago
      I think that is the point tmaly was making, there isn't a data source anyone can use to actually verify or assess the 293 because of HIPAA laws.
- duncan_bayne 11y ago
  "Most perpetrators of mass shootings (more than 4 people shot) do not have a diagnosable mental illness." It's almost like there's an unwillingness to use the E-word to describe them. "No sane person would do that." "No, no good person would do that. Sane mass murders are evil."