No shot, Sherlock!

The University of Washington also reports that 2+2=4?

People hospitalized with a gunshot wound are 30 times more likely to come back to the hospital with another firearm injury than those hospitalized for another medical reason, according to a new study from the University of Washington.

Let's put on our thinking caps and see if we can guess the omitted variable in the Seattle PI story;

The research presents some ideas for next steps including treating firearms injuries as a public health problem to prevent future shootings, according to Dr. Frederick Rivara, a UW professor and medical researcher at Harborview.

A public health problem!

Prevention of future shootings will require a combination of approaches including psychiatric treatment and community services, Rivara said. Representatives from public health, criminal justice, police, social workers, physicians and social workers will need to work together, he said.

"I know access to guns is one issue," Rivara said. "We also need to view these as key moments in individual people's lives."

He said he'd like to see the model pioneered in Seattle to help people with drinking problems inspire the collection of services designed to prevent future gun violence.

Because drinking problems have vanished in Seattle? Watch out for those pink elephants in the room, Doc.