A pregnant woman in Colorado, tracked by a mandatory ICE-issued VeriWatch, faced complications during delivery, causing hospital staff to grapple with how to proceed with the medical procedure. The VeriWatch is a location-tracking smart watch, and, unlike ankle monitors, it cannot be easily removed. This poses a problem because ICE and BI Inc. did not establish clear protocols for the device. The lack of clear protocols for the device added to the existing fear and confusion among monitored immigrants. This incident and others highlight how Donald Trump’s immigration policies are creating barriers to adequate medical care for vulnerable individuals.
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A letter sent to ICE officials and Senate committees detailed mistreatment and neglect experienced by over a dozen pregnant women in immigration custody. The women reported substandard medical care, including being shackled, placed in solitary confinement, and denied necessities like prenatal vitamins. Advocates are pressing for the release of all pregnant women in custody and an end to the detention of those known to be pregnant, postpartum, or nursing. These allegations, which include reports of miscarriages and psychological harm, contradict a previous statement from DHS denying mistreatment of pregnant detainees. The experiences described allegedly violate a Biden administration directive regarding the detention of pregnant individuals.
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A new Senate report has uncovered 510 credible allegations of human rights abuses within U.S. immigration detention centers, including 14 cases of mistreatment of pregnant women. The investigation, spearheaded by Senator Jon Ossoff, revealed serious issues such as inadequate medical care, poor living conditions, and delayed treatment, specifically highlighting instances where pregnant women were denied urgent care and proper nutrition. The report documents a range of distressing incidents, including a case where a woman was left unattended after a miscarriage, underscoring the severity of the reported abuses. Despite these findings, a Department of Homeland Security official maintains that all detainees receive proper medical care and screenings.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the Department of Health and Human Services will no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy pregnant women and children, contradicting current CDC guidance. This decision, supported by NIH director Jay Bhattacharya and FDA commissioner Martin Makary, lacks publicly available evidence and has raised concerns among public health experts. The CDC maintains that COVID-19 vaccination is safe and beneficial for children and pregnant individuals, citing studies demonstrating reduced transmission and serious complications. Leading medical organizations strongly oppose this change, emphasizing the significant risks of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy and for newborns.
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The Trump administration abruptly defunded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant focused on training clinicians to identify and address intimate partner violence among pregnant women, citing the project’s categorization as a “DEI” initiative. This two-year project aimed to create a vital training program for healthcare professionals, a crucial step given that homicide by an abusive partner is the leading cause of death for pregnant and postpartum women. The termination, which bypassed standard suspension procedures, effectively eliminated a program designed to combat a significant public health crisis. The researchers argue this decision harms not only crucial research but also disproportionately affects underrepresented investigators studying these issues, resulting in long-term negative consequences for the field.
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A review of over 1,500 research papers revealed a 90% mortality rate among pregnant women infected with bird flu, with 87% of their babies also succumbing. This alarming finding, based on 30 confirmed cases across several countries, highlights the vulnerability of pregnant women to this virus, despite the overall rarity of human infections. The lack of safety data currently prevents the inclusion of pregnant women in avian influenza vaccine trials, creating a significant public health concern. While the risk of a pandemic remains low, the study underscores the need for research into protecting this vulnerable population.
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ICE Tracks Pregnant Woman to Delivery Room with Surveillance Watch
A pregnant woman in Colorado, tracked by a mandatory ICE-issued VeriWatch, faced complications during delivery, causing hospital staff to grapple with how to proceed with the medical procedure. The VeriWatch is a location-tracking smart watch, and, unlike ankle monitors, it cannot be easily removed. This poses a problem because ICE and BI Inc. did not establish clear protocols for the device. The lack of clear protocols for the device added to the existing fear and confusion among monitored immigrants. This incident and others highlight how Donald Trump’s immigration policies are creating barriers to adequate medical care for vulnerable individuals.
Read More
Pregnant Women Report Miscarriages, Bleeding Out in ICE Custody, Sparking Outrage
A letter sent to ICE officials and Senate committees detailed mistreatment and neglect experienced by over a dozen pregnant women in immigration custody. The women reported substandard medical care, including being shackled, placed in solitary confinement, and denied necessities like prenatal vitamins. Advocates are pressing for the release of all pregnant women in custody and an end to the detention of those known to be pregnant, postpartum, or nursing. These allegations, which include reports of miscarriages and psychological harm, contradict a previous statement from DHS denying mistreatment of pregnant detainees. The experiences described allegedly violate a Biden administration directive regarding the detention of pregnant individuals.
Read More
Senate Report: Migrant Detention Centers Show Abuse of Pregnant Women, Children
A new Senate report has uncovered 510 credible allegations of human rights abuses within U.S. immigration detention centers, including 14 cases of mistreatment of pregnant women. The investigation, spearheaded by Senator Jon Ossoff, revealed serious issues such as inadequate medical care, poor living conditions, and delayed treatment, specifically highlighting instances where pregnant women were denied urgent care and proper nutrition. The report documents a range of distressing incidents, including a case where a woman was left unattended after a miscarriage, underscoring the severity of the reported abuses. Despite these findings, a Department of Homeland Security official maintains that all detainees receive proper medical care and screenings.
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RFK Jr.’s Health Plan: Neglecting Pregnant Women and Children
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the Department of Health and Human Services will no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy pregnant women and children, contradicting current CDC guidance. This decision, supported by NIH director Jay Bhattacharya and FDA commissioner Martin Makary, lacks publicly available evidence and has raised concerns among public health experts. The CDC maintains that COVID-19 vaccination is safe and beneficial for children and pregnant individuals, citing studies demonstrating reduced transmission and serious complications. Leading medical organizations strongly oppose this change, emphasizing the significant risks of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy and for newborns.
Read More
Trump Cuts Domestic Violence Funding, Blaming DEI
The Trump administration abruptly defunded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant focused on training clinicians to identify and address intimate partner violence among pregnant women, citing the project’s categorization as a “DEI” initiative. This two-year project aimed to create a vital training program for healthcare professionals, a crucial step given that homicide by an abusive partner is the leading cause of death for pregnant and postpartum women. The termination, which bypassed standard suspension procedures, effectively eliminated a program designed to combat a significant public health crisis. The researchers argue this decision harms not only crucial research but also disproportionately affects underrepresented investigators studying these issues, resulting in long-term negative consequences for the field.
Read More
Bird Flu Threat to Pregnant Women and Unborn Babies: A Cause for Concern?
A review of over 1,500 research papers revealed a 90% mortality rate among pregnant women infected with bird flu, with 87% of their babies also succumbing. This alarming finding, based on 30 confirmed cases across several countries, highlights the vulnerability of pregnant women to this virus, despite the overall rarity of human infections. The lack of safety data currently prevents the inclusion of pregnant women in avian influenza vaccine trials, creating a significant public health concern. While the risk of a pandemic remains low, the study underscores the need for research into protecting this vulnerable population.
Read More