Seeking medical justice

doi:10.1136/bmj.39520.553438.3A

BMJ 2008;336:683-684 (29 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.39520.553438.3A

Letters

Refused asylum seekers

Seeking medical justice

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

With reference to Heath,¹ existing secondary care restrictionshave already contributed to avoidable deaths among failed asylumseekers.¹ ² There is no evidence that they have saved money,except perhaps by deterring people who are still entitled tocare from seeking it. Removing the right of general practitionersto register failed asylum seekers will extend the damage toindividual and public health and the ethos of our profession.These steps will not produce economies or make these patients"go home," even though government openly intends to use denialof care to coerce their involuntary departure. They will requiredoctors to act as immigration police.

If the state forbids us to investigate, treat, and refer certainpatients on public funds, we can still examine, document, andadvise about their medical conditions. We can also inform ministersand the public of the consequences of these policies. That isthe commitment made by over . . . [Full text of this article]

Frank W Arnold, independent doctor

¹ Reading RG6 1QB

arnold_frank@hotmail.com