AMA Journal of Ethics
Volume 20, Issue 12, 2018, Pages E1143-E1151

Diagnosis codes for human trafficking can help assess incidence, risk factors, and comorbid illness and injury (Review) (Open Access)

Macias-Konstantopoulos W.L.*
  • a Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston, United States

Abstract

The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) is the system used by clinicians and medical coders to document diseases, symptoms, social circumstances, and external causes of illness and injury. ICD-10-CM codes for various forms of abuse and violence perpetrated against children and adults exist and facilitate the study of incidence, social context, and comorbid illness and injury. Extant abuse codes, however, fail to capture the profoundly exploitative nature of trafficking and adequately distinguish trafficking patients from other types of abuse patients. As a result, the first trafficking-specific codes have been approved for the 2019 ICD-10-CM update and are expected to strengthen data collection on incidence of and risk factors for trafficking, the burden of comorbid illness and injury, and resources needed to effectively care for trafficked persons. Copyright © 2018 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

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Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85059152638&doi=10.1001%2famajethics.2018.1143&partnerID=40&md5=452f2194dc27b254c2ef098613c2dd12

DOI: 10.1001/amajethics.2018.1143
ISSN: 23766980
Original Language: English