Health and Human Rights
Volume 11, Issue 2, 2009, Pages 89-100

HIV screening and care for immigration detainees (Article)

Venters H.D. , McNeely J. , Keller A.S.
  • a NYU School of Medicine, United States
  • b NYU School of Medicine, United States
  • c NYU School of Medicine, NYU Center for Health and Human Rights, United States

Abstract

The detention of immigrants in the United States is a rapidly expanding endeavor with serious health consequences for the detainees. This detainee population represents non-criminal immigrants who are detained because of a visa violation or other immigration issue but who are not charged with any crime and do not enter the criminal justice system. HIV-positive detainees are especially vulnerable to lapses in proper medical care, and press reports have highlighted deaths and adverse medical outcomes among HIV-positive detainees. We have examined reports on detainee health issues published by numerous groups and conducted our own analysis of the health plan used to govern much of the specialty care for detainees who are HIV positive. We conclude that the system of immigration detention in the US fails to adequately screen detainees for HIV and delivers a substandard level of medical care to those with HIV. We provide several specific recommendations for improving screening and medical care among this highly vulnerable population. © 2009 Venters, McNeely, and Keller.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

patient care governance approach HIV Infections Human immunodeficiency virus infection human immigration Anti-Retroviral Agents antiretrovirus agent Human immunodeficiency virus human rights Confidentiality United States Humans migrant Emigrants and Immigrants Continuity of Patient Care vulnerability Article organization and management legislation and jurisprudence health care migration legal aspect Delivery of Health Care crime health care delivery immigrant population

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77951672108&partnerID=40&md5=c92e44d3f740edb2dec6e2dc54360fa2

ISSN: 10790969
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English