Doctors fear ICE agents in health facilities deter people from seeking care
Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, told "CBS Mornings Plus" on Tuesday that she has not seen any official ICE raids in hospitals, but that ICE agents have been seen in hospitals as well as other health care facilities.
That's because detention standards require that ICE detainees be provided medical services, including initial medical and dental screenings, as well as emergency care.
"They are often bringing in people that they've detained for medical clearance," said Gounder, who is also a practicing internist and infectious disease expert in New York City. "We see this often with law enforcement. But it is creating an atmosphere of fear. And my colleagues and I have had numerous patients tell us that they hesitated or waited too long to come in for health care."
And delays in care matter, Gounder added. Delayed care for a heart attack or stroke, for example, can lead to more loss of heart or brain tissue.
Gounder also heard from an emergency medicine physician in Los Angeles who has seen the impact of ICE agents appearing in hospital settings.
The agents are arriving with ski masks and looking intimidating to the general patient, affecting the overall health of the community because it's creating an atmosphere of fear instead of of wellness, according to the doctor.
The doctor also alleged agents have committed ethics violations, including not showing their identification, not allowing patient privacy during interviews and examinations, preventing doctors from contacting family for necessary medical information and preventing family from visiting.
"These are really standard things," Gounder said. "Every patient should have the right to these kinds of provisions for good health care."
"If you're a law enforcement official coming into a hospital or health care facility, you need to be identifying yourself as such, you need to be showing your badge or your ID," Gounder said, adding that those who want to enter private patient areas "also need to be showing a judicial warrant."
Federal legal standards and privacy protections, including HIPAA and the 4th Amendment to the Constitution, bar unreasonable searches and seizures, including in non-public hospital areas.
CBS News has reached out to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
A lot of health care providers don't know what their rights are, Gounder said, prompting at least some hospitals to offer employees guidance on potential ICE encounters.
At Bellevue Hospital, for example, where Gounder works, staff were recently given sample prompts for interacting with non-local law enforcement, including ICE agents.
The hospital told staff, in part: "We do not require a patient's immigration status to provide care, and we do not share medical or personal information about our patients unless required by law."
The presence of ICE agents is not just a concern for physical health, but also mental health.
"Think about who has come here as an immigrant, many of them have faced real trauma in their home countries," Gounder said. "So this, what feels like militarization of an emergency room, can be very re-traumatizing and cause some very relevant health impacts."
Sneak peek: Who Killed Aileen Seiden in Room 15?
Everything we know so far about the deadly Texas floods
Search continues for dozens after Texas floods, at least 79 dead with more severe weather expected
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
27 minutes ago
- CBS News
TikTok trend linked to spike in teen deaths from nitrous oxide misuse, Maryland pharmacist says
A growing number of young people are misusing nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or whippets, to get high, and a Maryland health expert warns that the consequences can be deadly. A study published July 30 in JAMA Network Open found that U.S. deaths from nitrous oxide jumped by 578% between 2010 and 2023. Last year alone, 156 minors died after inhaling the gas, often from small, presurized canisters sold as whipped cream chargers. Known by brand names like Galaxy Gas, the nitrous oxide canisters are sold online and at gas stations in flavored packaging. On TikTok and other social media platforms, videos of young people inhaling from the canisters have gone viral, drawing concerns from health professionals. "It might seem harmless at first, but it could just take one sitting," said David Berg-Lewis, an emergency medicine clinical pharmacist with LifeBridge Health in Maryland. "You start with a headache or dizziness, but that can quickly lead to seizures, loss of consciousness or even death." Berg-Lewis explained that nitrous oxide cuts off oxygen to the brain, effectively sedating a person's central nervous system. "It deprives people of oxygen," he said. "That's what leads to unconsciousness, suffocation and unfortunately, it can be fatal." The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Mississippi and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, analyzed 14 years of data on nitrous oxide-related deaths from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The authors of the study noted that the accessibility of the gas, the flavoring and its presence on social media have made it more appealing to young people. "The unconsciousness and suffocation can happen quickly," Berg-Lewis said. "But there are long-term risks too. People can develop numbness and tingling in their hands and legs, weakness, even permanent lung damage." According to Berg-Lewis, the effects depend heavily on the concentration of the gas. "Once the percentage of nitrous oxide in the air hits 80%, you're basically cutting off the brain's oxygen supply," he said. "At that point, someone can slip into an unconscious state." While Berg-Lewis hasn't personally treated a nitrous oxide-related case in the emergency department yet, he said some of his colleagues have, and he hopes he doesn't encounter one. "I mean, using it at all is not good," he said. "But the scary thing is how fast it can go from someone just trying it to a life-threatening situation." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning earlier this year, listing 15 nitrous oxide products, including Galaxy Gas, as potentially dangerous when misused. However, Berg-Lewis said dozens more are likely on the market, and many are not regulated or clearly labeled.
CNN
27 minutes ago
- CNN
Legionnaires' disease outbreak in New York City grows to 58 illnesses, 2 deaths
Fifty-eight people in New York City have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease, a serious bacterial lung infection, and two people have died, according to the city health department. The bacteria, Legionella, is suspected to be spread by cooling towers on buildings in Central Harlem. A cooling tower is a rooftop device that releases mist into the air as it cools a large building. If the water inside becomes too warm, stagnant, or isn't properly disinfected, Legionella can grow and sicken people who inhale the mist. The disease cannot be spread from person to person. The city health department first announced the cluster on July 25. The city said it would test all the cooling towers in the area, and as of Monday, remediation was completed on 11 that had an initial positive screening for the Legionella pneumophila bacteria. 'Anyone in these zip codes with flu-like symptoms should contact a health care provider as soon as possible,' Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse said in a news release on Monday. Legionnaires' disease causes flu-like symptoms, including cough, fever, headaches, muscles aches and shortness of breath. It's treatable with antibiotics, but if left untreated, it can cause shock and multi-organ failure, according to the World Health Organization. About 10% of people who get Legionnaires' die from complications of their illness, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it's more dangerous for older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Around 6,000 Legionnaires' disease cases are reported each year in the United States, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, but reported totals may be lower than the actual cases in part because it can be difficult to distinguish Legionnaires' disease from other types of pneumonia.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Acadia Pharmaceuticals to Participate in the Canaccord Genuity 45th Annual Growth Conference
SAN DIEGO, August 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ACAD) today announced that it will participate in a fireside chat at Canaccord Genuity 45th Annual Growth Conference on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time. A live webcast of Acadia's fireside chat will be accessible on the company's website, under the investors section and an archived recording will be available on the website for approximately one month following the presentation. About Acadia Pharmaceuticals Acadia is advancing breakthroughs in neurological and rare diseases to elevate life. Since our founding we have been working at the forefront of healthcare to bring vital solutions to people who need them most. We developed and commercialized the first and only FDA-approved drug to treat hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson's disease psychosis and the first and only approved drug in the United States and Canada for the treatment of Rett syndrome. Our clinical-stage development efforts are focused on Prader-Willi syndrome, Alzheimer's disease psychosis and multiple other programs targeting neuroscience and neuro-rare diseases. For more information, visit us at and follow us on LinkedIn and X. View source version on Contacts Investor Contact: Acadia Pharmaceuticals Kildani(858) 261-2872ir@ Acadia Pharmaceuticals Tieszen(858) 261-2950ir@
