LACMA Calls for Urgent, Humane Dialogue to Address Public Health, Fear of Accessing Care

LACMA stands against policies that erode trust, create fear, and drive patients away from the care they need.

As a non-partisan organization of physicians, the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA) is committed to the health and well-being of all people and reaffirms the fundamental human right of every patient to be treated with respect, dignity, and compassion—regardless of immigration status, race, or background.

As a result of the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, apprehensions and deportations, medical clinics are seeing a significant increase in patient no shows. When asked in follow-up phone calls why they could not keep their appointments, many patients share that they are afraid. The daily images shown by the media will have lasting effects on all of us. Adults and their children, including U.S. citizens, are experiencing anxiety over the well-being of parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors, and anxiety about the risk of being profiled simply because of their surname or the color of their skin.

Physicians, medical practices, hospitals, and health systems are tasked with finding new ways to fulfill their duty to provide care while managing the distractions triggered by the raids.

For over 154 years, LACMA has supported the practice of medicine and represents over 30,000 physicians covering the county’s 5,000 square miles and in times of crisis, we have stood shoulder to shoulder with public health, science based, evidence-based public policies and solutions.

Today, we are at a crossroads as federal policies are impacting public health, undermining trust in institutions and creating chaos in communities; communities that already face shortages, heath disparities, food, transportation, and housing insecurities.

LACMA opposes any policy that erodes trust, creates fear, and negates decades of progress relative to health improvement and disease prevention. LACMA opposes any policy that profiles individuals. LACMA opposes any policy that doesn’t respect the rule of law or constitutional rights of individuals.

LACMA calls for urgent, prudent, and humane dialogue that restores dignity and stability to our communities. All people—regardless of immigration status—deserve to feel safe when seeking medical care.