Month: August 2014

Kids who play video games, but for less than an hour a day, may be better adjusted than those who don’t play at all. That’s the conclusion of a new study of nearly 5,000 boys and girls. Their ages ranged from 10 to 15. They were asked about the time they spent playing video games. They also filled out questionnaires that assessed their emotions, conduct, attention and relationships. Those who played games for less than an hour a day were most likely to be happy and helpful. They were more emotionally stable than the other groups. They were less likely to act out. Kids who played 1 to 3 hours a day had about the same level of emotional adjustment as those who didn’t play. Kids who played more than 3 hours a day tended to be less happy than the other groups. They were more likely to have behavior problems.

Medical groups have denounced a court decision upholding a Florida law that forbids doctors from asking patients if they have guns. The law was passed in 2011. It says doctors can ask about guns only if it is directly relevant to medical care or safety. A U.S. district court overturned the law in 2012. But a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision July 25. The court said that “inquiring about a private matter irrelevant to medical care isn’t part of the practice of good medicine.” Several doctors’ groups disagreed. The American Academy of Pediatrics called the decision “an egregious violation of the First Amendment rights of pediatricians.” Many children’s doctors ask about guns in the home. They offer advice on safe storage to help keep guns away from children. On August 1, a new coalition of 20 medical groups also decried the ruling.