Earlier this month, three New York City Police Department detectives said that NYU Langone staff mistreated them after mistaking them for federal immigration agents.
According to the detectives, one member was dismissed from the waiting room while their partner sought medical treatment. The plain-clothed officers visited an NYU Langone emergency room after one of them sustained minor injuries following an altercation with a drug suspect. Reportedly, staff at the ER said they could not receive treatment while in possession of firearms, despite state laws that exempt NYPD personnel from this policy.
“We provided care to the injured officer, who was asked to temporarily secure his weapon, as per our policy. The other two officers were allowed to keep their weapons,” saidNYU Langone spokesperson Steve Ritea in a statement.“NYU Langone always values the opportunity to provide care to members of law enforcement.”
It is reported that hospital staff believed the detectives were actually with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and “suggested they go elsewhere” for care. New York state law prohibits ICE agents from entering hospitals without a signed judicial warrant, although they cannot be refused medical care.
Dr. Silverman Comments
This echoes the fundamental principle of medical ethics embodied in the Hippocratic Oath (modern versions vary, but the classical translation includes): “I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgment, but never with a view to injury and wrong-doing. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous.” Many also remember the key phrase “primum non nocere,” which translates to “First, do no harm.” Doctors must prioritize the benefit of their patient and avoid harm or injustice during the course of their care.
Denying care to these officers violates the core tenet of the Hippocratic Oath by potentially discriminating against patients based on perceived affiliation. It harkens back to other troubling cases where medical professionals have expressed bias against certain patients (e.g., reports of doctors refusing or mishandling care based on political views), which erodes trust in healthcare. We need to leave politics out of the emergency room, the operating room and the waiting room and focus on what matters most – the health of the patient.