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Abstract
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Tara Wilkie is no stranger to human trafficking. The B.C.-based emergency department nurse spent time overseas working with sexually exploited, trafficked and at-risk children before taking courses in the forensic health specialty program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. "Human trafficking exists in every country in the world," she says. "It's more hidden in Canada, but that doesn't mean it's not happening here."
Victims of domestic trafficking -- especially aboriginal women and girls -- often end up in the sex trade, she explains. Some are also forced into fraudulent marriages, exploited as slave labour or victimized by gangs.
You'll see the red flags at registration and triage, says Wilkie. People will come in with someone who is very controlling and doesn't let them speak for themselves. They may have cuts, bruises and broken bones, or show signs of depression, post-traumatic stress, malnutrition, substance abuse and other long-term health problems.
Like victims of domestic violence, victims of trafficking may be afraid or unable to report the abuse. They may be hampered by a language barrier. They may have no identification, and their passports may have been confiscated by their captors. Often, they are wary of authority figures, including medical staff. Nine times out of 10, they don't know what trafficking is, Wilkie says.
An emergency department can be an overwhelming place for someone who has been trafficked. One tactic of a trafficker is to keep things unpredictable so that the person can't plan to escape or get help, she explains. That's why it's critical for care providers to report any concerns to a forensic nurse or sexual assault program, if there is one. "The unique part of our jobs as nurses is that we may be the only ones besides a john or the trafficker who victims come in contact with. We are in a powerful position to intervene."
Language: en |