This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA.
Within hours of Trump’s inauguration last month, he revoked a federal policy that had previously kept hospitals and other healthcare facilities safe from immigration agent raids. Healthcare workers across the country expressed outrage that their patients could be threatened by immigration agents while trying to access medical care.
As healthcare workers, we are committed to ensuring the safety and privacy of our patients in the face of these threats. This is not just a personal commitment, but a professional one as well. Both nurses and physicians are guided by their professions’ code of ethics, which outlines their duty in maintaining patient rights, safety, and privacy.
All medical workers, regardless of their role, are also bound by HIPAA which prohibits the disclosure of any patient’s personal information without their consent. Healthcare workers have both the professional duty and the legal right to safeguard their patients’ privacy.
Our primary commitment is always to our patients and our communities, regardless of the threats imposed on us. Our patients depend on us, and we are committed to keeping them safe.
Click here to read the article printed in the 02-12-25 Healthcare Newsletter
