The Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS), representing more than 2,000 physicians and medical students across Allegheny County, supports efforts to ensure that every person in our community can access medical care without regard to immigration or refugee status, as proposed in Allegheny County Council Ordinance 13809-26.
At the heart of medical care is trust. Physicians have a professional and ethical obligation to care for patients and to protect the integrity of the physician–patient relationship. Patients must feel confident that when they seek medical care, their primary focus can remain on their health and well-being.
When fear enters the healthcare setting, that trust can be undermined. Immigration enforcement activity connected to healthcare environments can discourage immigrant and refugee populations from seeking care. When individuals delay or avoid medical treatment because they are worried about potential enforcement activity, preventable conditions can worsen and broader public health risks can emerge.
“Healthcare settings should remain places where patients can seek care safely and without fear.”
These concerns have also been recognized by physicians across Pennsylvania. At the Pennsylvania Medical Society House of Delegates, physician leaders adopted policy supporting protections that allow healthcare facilities to function as safe environments for patient care and opposing interference with physicians’ ability to treat patients regardless of immigration status.
ACMS encourages policies that ensure hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings remain places where patients can seek care safely and without fear. For this reason, ACMS believes county resources should not be used for immigration enforcement activity in healthcare settings, allowing healthcare professionals to remain focused on patient care. Aligning with Pennsylvania Medical Society policy, ACMS also supports efforts to protect healthcare facilities as sensitive locations and to ensure that physicians and healthcare professionals can provide care without disruption.
ACMS works to advance public health through education, advocacy, service, and support for physician well-being, with a focus on compassionate medical care for the communities we serve. The organization remains committed to the health and well-being of every person who lives in Allegheny County and stands ready to serve as a resource to policymakers working to strengthen access to care and protect public health.
Comments on this can be submitted to acms@acms.org.