Back to Search
Start Over
Assessment of immigration law enforcement presence in a teaching hospital along the US/Mexico border.
- Source :
- International Journal for Equity in Health; 9/28/2023, Vol. 22 Issue 1, p1-12, 12p
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Background: Over the past decade, the United States (US) has seen a spike in migration across the US-Mexico border with an increase in hospital admissions of migrants and asylum-seekers under the custody of immigration law enforcement (ILE). This study aimed to determine how the presence of ILE officials affects patient care and provider experience in a teaching hospital setting. Methods: This cross-sectional online survey solicited quantitative and qualitative feedback from medical students, residents, and attending physicians (n = 1364) at a teaching hospital system with two campuses in Arizona. The survey included participant demographics and addressed participants' experience caring for patients in ILE custody, including the perception of respect, violations of patients' privacy and autonomy, and the comfort level with understanding hospital policies and patient rights. Thematic analyses were also performed based on respondent comments. Results: 332 individuals (24%) responded to the survey. Quantitative analyses revealed that 14% of participants described disrespectful behaviors of ILE officials, mainly toward detained patients. Qualitative thematic analyses of respondent comments revealed details on such disrespectful encounters including ILE officers violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and using intimidation tactics with patients. Nearly half of the respondents did not have knowledge of policies about ILE detainees' medical care, detainees' privacy rights, or ILE's authority in patient care. Conclusions: This study points out the complexities, challenges, and ethical considerations of caring for patients in ILE custody in the hospital setting and the need to educate healthcare professionals on both patient and provider rights. It describes the lived experiences and difficulties that providers on the border face in trying to achieve equity in the care they provide to detained migrant patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- IMMIGRATION law
UNITED States emigration & immigration
PRIVACY
ACADEMIC medical centers
HOSPITAL medical staff
PATIENT autonomy
CROSS-sectional method
MEDICAL students
HEALTH facility administration
PATIENTS
QUANTITATIVE research
HEALTH Insurance Portability & Accountability Act
HOSPITAL admission & discharge
SURVEYS
QUALITATIVE research
REFUGEES
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
PATIENTS' rights
MEDICAL ethics
THEMATIC analysis
SOCIAL control
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14759276
- Volume :
- 22
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- International Journal for Equity in Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 172395912
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-023-01934-2