Intersection of Human Trafficking and the Emergency Department

Health care is being challenged both nationally and globally as a result of the significant expansion of human trafficking (HT). Every day, people are being bought, sold, and smuggled like modern-day slaves. Victims are used solely for the purposes of sexual exploitation, labor, and services. HT is a transnational criminal enterprise that recognizes neither boundaries nor borders. The frequency of HT is nondeterminable. There are no absolute documented statistics that show a prevalence of HT, as most of it is covert. Many victims of HT go unnoticed and are captives in plain sight. ED nurses are frequently the front line of defense for those victims who are rarely permitted to interface with the health care system. ED nurses may be the HT victim's only limited contact with the outside world. At the forefront of caring for victims of trafficking, it is integral for ED nurses to be able to recognize the signs of trafficking, have an awareness of where to report any suspicious cases, and to be knowledgeable about the services that are available to victims of HT.