Children Trafficked to the US: A Doctor Asks What Medicine Can Do

The New England Journal of Medicine has published a perspective essay asking how doctors and other medical professionals in the United States can support children who have been trafficked — that is, moved across borders by people paid or trusted to bring them to safety, but who exploit them instead.

Meanwhile, the essay, written by Brandon Oddo, BS, was shared by the journal’s official account. It focuses specifically on children delivered into harm by the very individuals entrusted with their care — a form of betrayal that, according to the journal, leaves lasting psychological and physical damage.

Human trafficking of children is a federal crime in the United States and a recognised global public health concern. The World Health Organisation classifies it as a serious violation of human rights, with health consequences that can include trauma, malnutrition, untreated injury, and long-term mental health conditions.

The essay does not present clinical data or statistics. It poses a moral and professional question to the US medical community: what practical role can clinicians play when these children come into contact with health services?

But the question carries weight beyond American borders. Child trafficking is documented across Europe, including the United Kingdom, where the National Referral Mechanism — the official system for identifying victims — recorded thousands of child referrals NHS guidance advises clinicians to follow safeguarding protocols when trafficking is suspected and to refer cases to local authorities.

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If you are concerned about a child’s safety in the UK, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000, available 24 hours a day. To report suspected trafficking, call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700. In an emergency, dial 999. NHS 111 can provide guidance on accessing health support for vulnerable individuals.