Detective Work in the Medical Field: Uncovering Human Trafficking Victims in the Clinical Setting

Human trafficking is a pervasive issue impacting millions of individuals every year. Healthcare professionals frequently interact with victims enduring various forms of maltreatment associated with these circumstances, whether or not they know it. To make matters worse, many victims may not even realize they are being trafficked or the extent of abuse they have endured. Therefore, those they encounter outside of this criminal enterprise must be well-equipped to provide necessary education and support to help them escape perpetrators, regain independence, and achieve improved quality of life. This activity will provide an overview of the current status of human trafficking; offer guidance which may be implemented in real-world situations to support identification of victims and facilitate appropriate patient navigation; and outline strategies which enable pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and nurses to have a meaningful impact when interacting with suspected victims.