How perioperative staff can combat human trafficking—Part 1

Human trafficking (HT) is a global public health crisis and one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises that grosses hundreds of billions of dollars annually, all of which are tax-free profits made off the sale of human cargo. And yet, research shows the problem is poorly understood or recognized among many healthcare professionals. Even those with a basic understanding of the issue might buy into the same myth blinding the US public at large: that HT is a foreign crime, not one taking place within their own communities. Meanwhile, victims cycle in and out of the healthcare system, seen but essentially invisible to professionals who are ideally positioned to help.