The Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants has caused unintended health consequences. Some undocumented families are now avoiding doctors and proper health care because they fear a run-in with immigration officers.
Art Caplan, medical ethicist and the director of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center, warned that the mix of government fear tactics and medical avoidance could cause an epidemic.
“If you don’t get people who are here working, raising your kids, picking your vegetables, building your pool — if you don’t get them their vaccinations, if you don’t make sure they have the health care they need, they are going to impose a threat to you,” Caplan said.
Caplan acknowledged that citizens are worried about their own health care and may question why they should be worried about undocumented immigrants as well.
“Decency,” Caplan said. “And it’s prudent … If you don’t give people access to basic care while they are here ... If you terrify them into hiding from health care, that is really a pretty nasty, dangerous, combination.”
Only a change in public policy would prevent a potential epidemic, Caplan says.
“There should be some safe zones. Anything that involves the delivery of health care, that is off limits," he added. "I know that sounds dreamy, but that is the direction to push in.”
