Should Immigration Status Information Be Included in a Patient's Health Record?

Abstract

The documentation of immigration status in patient records poses a challenge to clinicians. On one hand recording this social determinant of health can facilitate continuity of care and improved communication among clinicians. On the other it might expose patients or their family members to immediate and unforeseen risks such as being stigmatized and discriminated against by nonimmigrant-friendly clinicians or being exposed to immigration enforcement if staff contact immigration officials in violation of patient confidentiality. Patients may raise concerns about the purpose and risks of such documentation alongside fears about potential data sharing and violations of privacy and confidentiality. This commentary explores clinicians’ options for documenting immigration status within the context of ethical legal and historical considerations in caring for stigmatized populations in changing political landscapes.