Abstract
Estimates from 2010 suggest that more than 11 million unauthorized immigrants reside in the United States. Many oncologists have struggled with how to fulfill their perceived obligation to treat unauthorized immigrant patients with cancer and no access to financial resources. Because of current realities in medical economics and reimbursement policies, there is simply not a large enough profit margin in most practices to offer free care to everyone who needs it. In this article, I attempt to clarify why we feel such an obligation to do so and whether the reasons behind this sense of obligation point us toward a consistent stance we should have toward unauthorized immigrant patients who seek treatment from us.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 212-214 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Journal of Oncology Practice |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2012 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Oncology(nursing)
- Health Policy
Cite this
To keep them from injustice : Reflections on the care of unauthorized immigrants with cancer. / Helft, Paul.
In: Journal of Oncology Practice, Vol. 8, No. 4, 07.2012, p. 212-214.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - To keep them from injustice
T2 - Reflections on the care of unauthorized immigrants with cancer
AU - Helft, Paul
PY - 2012/7
Y1 - 2012/7
N2 - Estimates from 2010 suggest that more than 11 million unauthorized immigrants reside in the United States. Many oncologists have struggled with how to fulfill their perceived obligation to treat unauthorized immigrant patients with cancer and no access to financial resources. Because of current realities in medical economics and reimbursement policies, there is simply not a large enough profit margin in most practices to offer free care to everyone who needs it. In this article, I attempt to clarify why we feel such an obligation to do so and whether the reasons behind this sense of obligation point us toward a consistent stance we should have toward unauthorized immigrant patients who seek treatment from us.
AB - Estimates from 2010 suggest that more than 11 million unauthorized immigrants reside in the United States. Many oncologists have struggled with how to fulfill their perceived obligation to treat unauthorized immigrant patients with cancer and no access to financial resources. Because of current realities in medical economics and reimbursement policies, there is simply not a large enough profit margin in most practices to offer free care to everyone who needs it. In this article, I attempt to clarify why we feel such an obligation to do so and whether the reasons behind this sense of obligation point us toward a consistent stance we should have toward unauthorized immigrant patients who seek treatment from us.
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U2 - 10.1200/JOP.2011.000470
DO - 10.1200/JOP.2011.000470
M3 - Article
C2 - 23180984
AN - SCOPUS:84870327750
VL - 8
SP - 212
EP - 214
JO - Journal of Oncology Practice
JF - Journal of Oncology Practice
SN - 1554-7477
IS - 4
ER -