Statement on DHS/ICE investigation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Statement attributable to:
Gary L. LeRoy, MD
President
American Academy of Family Physicians

“The concerns raised in the recent whistleblower complaint regarding medical care at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, if substantiated, would represent an alarming violation of patient autonomy and ethical standards governing informed consent, causing great harm. We applaud the actions by U.S. Department of Homeland Security to conduct an internal investigation. If these claims are substantiated, we call on DHS and ICE to take swift and decisive corrective action. We also urge DHS to investigate whether similar incidents of medical abuse and neglect may be occurring at other detention facilities.”

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About the American Academy of Family Physicians
The AAFP is the largest national association of family physicians, representing 124,500 physicians and medical students. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on impactful care for people of all ages, races and genders across all medical conditions. The AAFP supports every stage of a family physician's career and provides evidence-based resources, advocacy and community to empower family medicine. To learn more, visit aafp.org. For information about health care, medical conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s patient education website, familydoctor.org.