Physicians shocked

Physicians from IDHDP including obstetricians and paediatricians are shocked at recent rulings in Alabama and proposed laws in Tennessee that permit women to be arrested and incarcerated because of drug use or addiction.

These policies are not informed by a medical understanding of addiction or drug treatment, and instead seek to punish women who are unable to access healthcare. Arresting drug users, and pregnant women in particular, is a threat to public health and is contrary to international best practices.

Physicians are charged to do no harm: reporting pregnant patients to law enforcement is harmful. IDHDP instead calls upon doctors to protect the health confidentiality of their patients.