Scannell Meredith, MacDonald Andrea E, Berger Amanda, Boyer Nichole
Northeastern University, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Boston College.
J Forensic Nurs. 2018 Apr/Jun;14(2):117-121. doi: 10.1097/JFN.0000000000000203.
Human trafficking is a human rights violation and a global health problem. Victims of human trafficking have medical and mental health sequelae requiring specific healthcare interventions. Healthcare professionals may be the initial contact that these victims make outside the world of trafficking. Healthcare professionals are key agents in the identification of human trafficking, which is essential in eliminating this public health problem. Unfortunately, healthcare professionals are not always able to detect signs of human trafficking. Failure to detect results in missed opportunities to assist victims. This is a case report of a victim of human trafficking who presented to an emergency department with medical and mental health issues. Despite numerous encounters with different healthcare professionals, signs and symptoms of human trafficking were not identified. Skilled assessment made by a forensic nurse alerted the healthcare team to clear features of human trafficking associated with this person. Through this case report we illustrate the key role the nurse played in identifying signs of human trafficking. Improvement of human trafficking educational programs is highlighted as a key adjunct to improving detection and facilitating the proper treatment of victims.
人口贩运是一种侵犯人权行为，也是一个全球卫生问题。人口贩运受害者会出现需要特定医疗干预的身心健康后遗症。医疗保健专业人员可能是这些受害者在贩运世界之外的首次接触对象。医疗保健专业人员是识别人口贩运的关键因素，而这对于消除这一公共卫生问题至关重要。不幸的是，医疗保健专业人员并非总能察觉人口贩运的迹象。未能察觉会导致错失援助受害者的机会。这是一份关于一名人口贩运受害者的病例报告，该受害者因身心健康问题前往急诊科就诊。尽管与不同的医疗保健专业人员多次接触，但人口贩运的迹象和症状均未被识别。一名法医护士进行的专业评估使医疗团队注意到与该人相关的明显人口贩运特征。通过这份病例报告，我们阐述了护士在识别人口贩运迹象方面所发挥的关键作用。改善人口贩运教育项目被强调为改善识别工作并促进对受害者进行妥善治疗的关键辅助手段。
