From the National Weekly Edition of the Washington Times newspaper May 14 - 20, 2001 edition, a letter to the editor entitled, “Propaganda doctor” reads:

“I hope this letter will help me get the word out to unsuspecting parents.  I have spoken with lawyers and found that the following is not illegal. The only way to stop this at present is to inform parents before it happens.

My 12-year old son was given a routine physical exam last week at a local doctor’s office. During that exam, my son reports that the doctor’s staff asked several questions regarding whether we have firearms in our home and how they are stored. A crucial point here is that these questions were asked in the same breath as questions about cigarette smoking, drug abuse and alcohol abuse. That is, invasion of privacy aside, this is a left-handed attempt at indoctrination.

The next day I called the doctor, expressed my concerns and asked him to give me the form that had been filled out with this personal information. He said the American Academy of Pediatrics intended to include the information elicited from our son in a database. He verbally agreed to return the form to me, but when I arrived at his office his staff gave me only a copy. I asked for the original, which prompted the staff person to go get the doctor. When the doctor arrived I asked for the original form. He said, in front of other parents and several small children, “I don’t give a damn what you want. Now get the hell out of my office.”

These off-color words were repeated a time or two, after which he turned and left.

I strongly object to a pediatrician being loud and vulgar in front of children. I strongly object to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the doctor having used a minor child to acquire personal information that is no way relevant to the business at hand. I also strongly object to the underhanded association of firearms with tobacco, drugs, and alcohol in young children’s minds.”

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.