[Sex workers: when taboos get in the way of care in the emergency department]

In Switzerland, sex work has been legal under certain conditions since 1942, and the number of sex workers in 2011 was estimated at between 14'000 and 20'000 throughout the country, 96% of whom were migrants. These people are exposed to a wide range of vulnerabilities, both because of their profession and because of structural and institutional shortcomings. The complexity of their care has led over time to the creation of specialised structures and units, which are often unknown to healthcare professionals. The aim of this article is to shed light on these facilities and to offer healthcare professionals appropriate advice on how to improve the care provided to patients in the emergency department.