Immigration enforcement: Rights and integrity of the clinic

As federal immigration enforcement has intensified and policies have eroded protections that prevent agents from entering sensitive locations, dermatologists face the possibility of encountering immigration agents in clinical settings. These potential scenarios reflect the intersection of the attending physician's ethical obligation, legal authority, and public health consequences. We examined the ethical implications (including privacy, nonmaleficence, and distributive justice) and legal authority governing these encounters. Enforcement activity has detrimental effects in the clinic, including inciting fear among staff and patients, with patients subsequently avoiding or delaying care. Established federal case law supports the physician's rights to deny agents access to nonpublic clinical areas without a judicial warrant. Dermatologists possess the legal standing and ethical obligations to protect patient information and advocate for systematic institutional protocols.