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Anonymous Affidavits of Merit
Policy Statements
Human Trafficking [Ann Emerg Med. 2016;68:405.] Human trafficking is a human rights violation with significant implications for the physical, sexual, and psychological health of those affected. Because victims of trafficking seek medical attention for acute injuries and illnesses, as well as neglected chronic conditions, emergency clinicians are in a unique position to assess, intervene, and refer for assistance. Identification and assessment of victims can be difficult; however, human trafficking can encompass abuse in many forms, including neglect, intimidation, and physical, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse. ACEP recommends that: Emergency clinicians be familiar with potential signs, symptoms, and indicators of human trafficking. Emergency personnel maintain a high index of suspicion when evaluating patients of any age who appear to be at risk for abuse and violence and assess for specific indicators of trafficking. To minimize the potential for retraumatization, potential victims of human trafficking be evaluated with a culturally relevant and survivor-centered approach, with an understanding of how trauma may affect an individual’s response to care. Hospitals and emergency departments (EDs) have protocols in place to address the medical, psychological, safety, and legal needs of the victims of human trafficking. Because many of the needs of victims of human trafficking may not be addressed in an ED visit, this includes referral to appropriate resources. Emergency practitioners be aware of institutional protocols and resources to guide a safe and multidisciplinary approach to helping identified victims, including appropriate referrals. Emergency medical services (EMS), medical schools, and emergency medicine residency curricula include education and training in recognition, assessment, documentation, and interventions for patients surviving human trafficking. ED and EMS staff receive ongoing training and education in the identification, management, and documentation of human trafficking victims. Hospitals, EDs, and EMS maintain appropriate education about state and federal legal requirements for reporting human trafficking. Emergency personnel be afforded protected or anonymous reporting. ACEP supports: Appropriate measures to prevent human trafficking in the community. Volume 68, no. 3 : September 2016
Hospital, ED, and EMS participation in collaborative interdisciplinary approaches for the recognition, assessment, and assistance of human trafficking victims. These approaches include the development of policies and protocols that account for the potential need to interface with outside entities such as local government agencies, law enforcement agencies, and other relevant legal and social service organizations. Epidemiologic research about the incidence and prevalence of human trafficking, as well as clinical research to identify best practice approaches and interventions in the prevention, detection, assessment, and assistance of human trafficking victims. Approved April 2016 Approved by the ACEP Board of Directors April 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.06.039
Anonymous Affidavits of Merit [Ann Emerg Med. 2016;68:405.] Affidavits of merit, generally provided by the plaintiff’s expert witness, are required in some jurisdictions to ensure through this certification process that a legal case has a substantive basis for filing. Their stated intent is to reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits. Anonymous affidavits of merit are uncommon but are being discussed in some regions. Anonymous testimony in any form does not permit confirmation of the expert’s qualifications, authoritative expertise, or potential bias. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) opposes the admission of anonymous affidavits of merit in medical malpractice litigation and other judicial proceedings. Approved June 2016 Approved by the ACEP Board of Directors June 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.07.018
Patient Experience-of-Care Surveys [Ann Emerg Med. 2016;68:405-406.] The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recognizes that patient experience-of-care surveys that are methodologically and statistically sound can be a valid measure of the patient’s perception of health care value and that patient outcome can be related to perceived patient experience of care. Patient experience-of-care survey tools should Annals of Emergency Medicine 405
Human Trafficking [Ann Emerg Med. 2016;68:405.] Human trafficking is a human rights violation with significant implications for the physical, sexual, and psychological health of those affected. Because victims of trafficking seek medical attention for acute injuries and illnesses, as well as neglected chronic conditions, emergency clinicians are in a unique position to assess, intervene, and refer for assistance. Identification and assessment of victims can be difficult; however, human trafficking can encompass abuse in many forms, including neglect, intimidation, and physical, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse. ACEP recommends that: Emergency clinicians be familiar with potential signs, symptoms, and indicators of human trafficking. Emergency personnel maintain a high index of suspicion when evaluating patients of any age who appear to be at risk for abuse and violence and assess for specific indicators of trafficking. To minimize the potential for retraumatization, potential victims of human trafficking be evaluated with a culturally relevant and survivor-centered approach, with an understanding of how trauma may affect an individual’s response to care. Hospitals and emergency departments (EDs) have protocols in place to address the medical, psychological, safety, and legal needs of the victims of human trafficking. Because many of the needs of victims of human trafficking may not be addressed in an ED visit, this includes referral to appropriate resources. Emergency practitioners be aware of institutional protocols and resources to guide a safe and multidisciplinary approach to helping identified victims, including appropriate referrals. Emergency medical services (EMS), medical schools, and emergency medicine residency curricula include education and training in recognition, assessment, documentation, and interventions for patients surviving human trafficking. ED and EMS staff receive ongoing training and education in the identification, management, and documentation of human trafficking victims. Hospitals, EDs, and EMS maintain appropriate education about state and federal legal requirements for reporting human trafficking. Emergency personnel be afforded protected or anonymous reporting. ACEP supports: Appropriate measures to prevent human trafficking in the community. Volume 68, no. 3 : September 2016
Hospital, ED, and EMS participation in collaborative interdisciplinary approaches for the recognition, assessment, and assistance of human trafficking victims. These approaches include the development of policies and protocols that account for the potential need to interface with outside entities such as local government agencies, law enforcement agencies, and other relevant legal and social service organizations. Epidemiologic research about the incidence and prevalence of human trafficking, as well as clinical research to identify best practice approaches and interventions in the prevention, detection, assessment, and assistance of human trafficking victims. Approved April 2016 Approved by the ACEP Board of Directors April 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.06.039
Anonymous Affidavits of Merit [Ann Emerg Med. 2016;68:405.] Affidavits of merit, generally provided by the plaintiff’s expert witness, are required in some jurisdictions to ensure through this certification process that a legal case has a substantive basis for filing. Their stated intent is to reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits. Anonymous affidavits of merit are uncommon but are being discussed in some regions. Anonymous testimony in any form does not permit confirmation of the expert’s qualifications, authoritative expertise, or potential bias. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) opposes the admission of anonymous affidavits of merit in medical malpractice litigation and other judicial proceedings. Approved June 2016 Approved by the ACEP Board of Directors June 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.07.018
Patient Experience-of-Care Surveys [Ann Emerg Med. 2016;68:405-406.] The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recognizes that patient experience-of-care surveys that are methodologically and statistically sound can be a valid measure of the patient’s perception of health care value and that patient outcome can be related to perceived patient experience of care. Patient experience-of-care survey tools should Annals of Emergency Medicine 405