title: Human Trafficking: A Guide to Identification and Approach for the Emergency Physician.
abstract: Human trafficking is a significant human rights problem that is often associated with psychological and physical violence. There is no demographic that is spared from human trafficking. Traffickers maintain control of victims through physical, sexual, and emotional violence and manipulation. Because victims of trafficking seek medical attention for the medical and psychological consequences of assault and neglected health conditions, emergency clinicians are in a unique position to recognize victims and intervene. Evaluation of possible trafficking victims is challenging because patients who have been exploited rarely self-identify. This article outlines the clinical approach to the identification and treatment of a potential victim of human trafficking in the emergency department. Emergency practitioners should maintain a high index of suspicion when evaluating patients who appear to be at risk for abuse and violence, and assess for specific indicators of trafficking. Potential victims should be evaluated with a multidisciplinary and patient-centered technique. Furthermore, emergency practitioners should be aware of national and local resources to guide the approach to helping identified victims. Having established protocols for victim identification, care, and referrals can greatly facilitate health care providers' assisting this population.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA; ACEP Public Health and Injury Prevention Committee. Electronic address: jshandro@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shandro
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; HEAL Trafficking.
authors.forename: Makini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chisolm-Straker
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA; ACEP Public Health and Injury Prevention Committee.
authors.forename: Herbert C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Duber
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine Residency, University of Iowa School of Medicine, Iowa City, IA; ACEP Academic Affairs Committee.
authors.forename: Shannon Lynn
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Findlay
authors.affiliation: Pali Momi Medical Center, Emergency Services, Aiea, HI.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Munoz
authors.affiliation: ACEP Academic Affairs Committee; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine Residency, John Peter Smith Health Network, Fort Worth, TX, and the EMSC.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stanzer
authors.affiliation: HEAL Trafficking; Departments of Emergency Medicine and Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Hanni
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stoklosa
authors.affiliation: ACEP Public Health and Injury Prevention Committee; Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY.
authors.forename: Dan E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Wiener
authors.affiliation: ACEP Public Health and Injury Prevention Committee; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wingkun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D064410:Human Trafficking / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control