Opinion Sharing the immigration status of Medicaid patients betrays Hippocratic oath

The Trump administration's directive to share Medicaid enrollees' personal health data, including immigration status, with the Department of Homeland Security has provoked serious alarm among health care professionals. This action, which violates multiple federal privacy laws, endangers the confidentiality of over 78 million Medicaid enrollees. Medicaid serves as a vital health care source, covering 42% of all births nationwide and providing essential services to vulnerable populations. The use of private medical data for immigration enforcement not only breaches patient trust but also undermines core medical ethics. The move comes amidst heightened ICE raids targeting undocumented individuals, further exacerbating fear among patients seeking care.

Lawmakers must urgently investigate the rationale behind this data transfer and take steps to prevent its recurrence. If this precedent is allowed to stand, it may pave the way for broader misuse of health data against any individuals deemed politically inconvenient. The stakes are high, particularly for marginalized communities already facing systemic barriers to care.