Recent incidents of immigration officials entering hospitals and detaining or apprehending individuals as young as 10 years old have made people who have entered the U.S. without legal permission more hesitant to seek care at hospitals and clinics, according to a recent op-ed published in the journal JAMA Oct. 16.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy discourages officials from engaging in enforcement actions at "sensitive locations," which include hospitals. However, recent government action has led more people to refrain from accessing healthcare services out of fear of deportation or discovery, the authors note. They suggest concerns about obtaining preventative care or receiving care could lead to poor control of chronic diseases such as hypertension, as well as an increase in untreated injuries, the spread of infectious diseases and more emergency room visits.
For those reasons, healthcare providers must advocate for hospitals and healthcare facilities to be regarded as "sanctuary spaces" that protect community members regardless of their immigration status, according to the authors. For example, the authors note hospitals should maintain clear policies and procedures regarding encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and possibly conduct patient awareness campaigns to inform patients their information will not be shared with federal immigration officials.
"There has always been a sense among many healthcare professionals that medicine represents a higher calling, with a commitment to serve those who are underserved, protect those who are less fortunate, and provide care … regardless of the ability of an individual to pay for those services or their immigration status," the authors conclude.
"These ideals are being challenged in healthcare settings and other places that should be safe from politics, and it is important that healthcare professionals speak with a single voice to fulfill their ethical responsibilities," they add.
To read the full op-ed, click here.