By Sabah Iqbal

Given all the turmoil in the world this summer, I chose to use this AOTW to focus on undocumented children, a population that will be growing in our area.

Over the weekend, I read this wonderful article in the Washington Post Magazine: it documents the harrowing and difficult journeys many small children are making to come to this country:  I found it haunting that some of the children are still separated from their parents…

The Washington Post: Departures

Today is the first day of public school for many (including Sabine!) and many districts have decided to classify undocumented children as “homeless;” thus allowing them to attend school without ANY documentation. As an ED provider who believes most strongly in our mission to provide care to all, regardless of ability to pay, I applaud this measure… So, when I read this article from the National Geographic on one community’s response to undocumented children in their neighborhood, it gave me great pause:

Undocumented Children Fuel New Tension on Immigration in Virginia

Essentially, there is a group in Manassas that  wishes to “save” Manassas – read and form your own opinion.

And finally, here is an excellent article from a physician’s perspective on the ethics of healthcare for undocumented immigrants; while this physician is a nephrologist examining renal transplants for undocumented immigrants, her thoughts and ideals hit home for me: If all we are “responsible” for is to provide emergency care, and don’t provide basic, preventive, primary care, our overall healthcare costs will rise astronomically, and real, live human beings will suffer.

Undocumented Immigrants and Kidney Transplants: Cost and Controversy

I searched extensively to read about the health problems of undocumented immigrant children in the US and there is scant data from the East Coast…. From literature from the West Coast and around the world, TB, HIV, and Hep B and C are of serious concern, even in small children (from the use of dirty needles, abuse, blood transfusions, etc)– although, one poignant article from Australia pointed out that disclosures that led to the diagnoses of these serious illnesses were difficult to come by – as children were often unaccompanied by  the guardian who lived with them “back home” and would have known their medical history. Sexually transmitted diseases are also noted to be a serious problem in undocumented children. And, last, but certainly not least, mental health issues are the most serious illnesses these children face.

Enjoy the ethical conundrums this beautiful Monday morning!