Doctors have a duty to care for all patients with compassion and respect, regardless of immigration status. However, many undocumented immigrants avoid medical care because they fear deportation and increased immigration enforcement.
About 13 million undocumented immigrants live in the United States. Many delay doctor visits or avoid health insurance because they worry their personal information could be shared with immigration authorities. This can lead to worse physical and mental health. Similar fears during the COVID-19 pandemic also caused many immigrants to avoid getting needed medical care.
To better support these patients, doctors can use trauma-informed care (TIC). This approach focuses on understanding a patient’s experiences instead of judging them. Rather than asking, “What is wrong with you?” doctors ask, “What happened to you?”
The most important part of trauma-informed care is creating a sense of safety. Doctors should avoid asking about a patient’s immigration status, protect patient privacy, and offer safer options like telehealth, home visits, or mailed medications when possible.
By making the exam room a safe and welcoming place, doctors can help undocumented patients feel comfortable seeking the medical care they need.
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