Documenting TortureSequelae: The Weill Cornell Model for Forensic Evaluation, Capacity Building, and Medical Education

Chelidze, Khatiya; Sirotin, Nicole; Fabiszak, Margaret; Edersheim, Terri G.; Clark, Taryn; Villegas, Luís; Moradi, Patriss W.; Ahola, Joanne

doi:10.1017/cbo9781107706460.011

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Furthermore, physicians who are just beginning to evaluate asylum seekers could benefit from access to a resource database where vetted and accepted templates, literature, and sample case reports could be available for review. This database could expand upon the resources provided through Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights (WCCHR), 31,32 and could offer a forum for information exchange between legal and medical providers, to share best practices and also provide counsel, both medical and legal, to colleagues working in the field.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“An absolutely necessary piece”: A qualitative study of legal perspectives on medical affidavits in the asylum process

Scruggs

Guetterman

Meyer

et al. 2016

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine

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A key challenge for asylum seekers in the United States is being able to provide evidence of prior persecution in their home countries. Medical/psychological affidavits corroborating applicants’ accounts often make the difference between successful and unsuccessful applications. The purpose of this study was to identify the unmet demand for and features of effective medical/psychological affidavits in the asylum process, as well as the personal and systemic barriers for asylum seekers. This is a qualitative study of semi-structured interviews with legal professionals who work in asylum law. Sixteen asylum lawyers and one Board of Immigration Appeals accredited representative practicing in the state of Michigan, United States, participated in this study. All participants noted that a vast majority of their asylum cases would benefit from a medical affidavit but that they have difficulty finding qualified physicians with experience writing such affidavits and testifying as expert witnesses. The major barriers to obtaining medical/psychological evaluations included inability to pay for services, lack of practitioner availability, and lack of practitioner training. The participants reported that features of a strong medical affidavit included clear, concise, and corroborative accounts that supported the applicant’s story from a diagnostic perspective and forensic descriptions that reinforced the credibility of the applicant. Several also noted that medical/psychological evaluations frequently would reveal additional details and incidents of trauma beyond those stated in the applicant’s preliminary statement. The study results suggest substantial unmet need for trained physicians to perform medical and psychological evaluations on a pro bono basis. Lawyers’ recommendations regarding effective medical affidavits and necessary ongoing support for asylum applicants should inform current efforts to improve physician and lawyer collaborations on asylum cases.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“An absolutely necessary piece”: A qualitative study of legal perspectives on medical affidavits in the asylum process

Scruggs

Guetterman

Meyer

et al. 2016

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A recent study demonstrated that student-run clinics have performed more than 1,600 forensic evaluations for asylum seekers, with students often scheduling assessments, serving as scribes during evaluations, and aiding in connecting asylum seekers to continuity medical care and social services [10]. Detailed descriptions of programs' structures, management, and participant roles have been well documented [11][12][13][14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical Student Involvement in a Human Rights Program: Impact on Student Development and Career Vision

Schonholz

Edens

Epié

et al. 2020

Annals of Global Health

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Background: There is consensus among many medical school deans that exposure to human rights is a necessary component of physician training [7, 8], however little is known about the impact of engagement in human rights programs on students' personal and professional development [15-28]. Objective: This study aimed to examine medical students' experiences in the Mount Sinai Human Rights Program (MSHRP), their motivations for involvement, and the possible influence of engagement on their professional identities, personal growth, and career choices. Methods: Through semi-structured interviews, this qualitative study gathered the experiences of 15 fourth year and recently graduated medical students who participated in the comprehensive training, research, and direct service opportunities provided by the program. Responses were coded using a content analysis approach. Findings: The results of this research highlight the motivations behind students' involvement in a medical human rights program, as well as the challenges they experienced engaging with this work. The study captured students' perceptions of the role of the program on their personal growth, clinical skills, and career vision. Nearly all the students interviewed indicated they developed important, clinically applicable skills that enhanced their traditional medical education. Students indicated that their participation directly influenced their professional identities and future career directions by reinforcing previous interests in human rights and social justice work, impacting medical specialty and residency program selections and fostering commitment to working with immigrant populations. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that longitudinal involvement with the MSHRP contributed to the acquisition of important clinical skills that were not otherwise attained in students' early medical education. Findings suggest that there is significant opportunity for clinical and leadership development outside the traditional preclinical and clinical setting, and that exposure to human rights education shapes students' professional identities and career paths. Finally, the findings highlight the essential role of human rights and social justice in medical education.

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Documenting TortureSequelae: The Weill Cornell Model for Forensic Evaluation, Capacity Building, and Medical Education

Cited by 2 publications

References 9 publications

“An absolutely necessary piece”: A qualitative study of legal perspectives on medical affidavits in the asylum process

“An absolutely necessary piece”: A qualitative study of legal perspectives on medical affidavits in the asylum process

Medical Student Involvement in a Human Rights Program: Impact on Student Development and Career Vision

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