In this article, Lindsay Wong explains the current situation regarding these Ice Detention Camps and their clear violations of Human Rights.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention centers are where immigrants are detained when entering the US unlawfully. These centers are also notorious for their poor medical care. At the moment, there are many issues of human rights violations and inadequate medical care at these detention centers, one of which is hysterectomies. Hysterectomies refer to the process of surgically removing a woman’s uterus, sometimes including surrounding structures such as the cervix, ovaries, Fallopian tubes, among others. Women at detention centers are currently undergoing hysterectomies without their informed consent.
There is already poor and insufficient medical care in ICE detention centers. Many detention centers in the remote South are particularly lacking in resources as the sustenance of the detainees is not very high. Because most centers are owned by private prisons, hardly any amount of funding goes into medical care. This results in poor standards of care for detainees. Because of their status, they are not adequately provided with sufficient resources for their health. In terms of healthcare, detention centers are understaffed and are relatively unresponsive to those who have chronic-care issues. Furthermore, the centers located in rural areas are far away from emergency and trauma care facilities, making it difficult to accommodate the needs of all of those who require immediate medical care. Specialized care cannot be provided to those who need it the most in detention centers. People who have life-threatening conditions are expected to go without adequate health care for months. Language barriers are also exacerbating the issue of poor medical care because communication is severely restricted. The detainees who require care do not fully comprehend what they are being told in medical appointments as there is a lack of bilingual staff.
Currently, a whistleblower reported that many women detained in ICE detention centers are receiving unwanted hysterectomies without their prior knowledge. For example, a detainee has reported abnormalities with her period, prompting her to seek medical attention. She was informed that there was a cyst in her ovary, so she agreed to undergo surgery to have it removed. After regaining consciousness, the doctor told her that one of her Fallopian tubes had been removed, which she had not given consent to. Hysterectomies result in the woman no longer being able to conceive naturally, which is very upsetting for some women. It also takes a toll on their mental health and wellbeing. The language barrier also comes into play here as the women may be misinformed or are at risk of misinterpreting what they are being told. Hysterectomies are just one of many unnecessary medical procedures being regularly conducted at ICE detention centers.
Detainees are only receiving substandard healthcare at ICE detention centers and women are even prone to receiving hysterectomies without their permission. Everyone should have access to adequate healthcare that responds to their needs. Changes to policies should be made to improve this issue. However, with the current American political climate, it is unclear if the situation will ever change for the better.
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