Immigration Order Is Bad Idea, Say 12 Doc Groups At very least, restrictions should be eased for medical personnel, patients

President Trump's executive order on immigration should be rescinded, but if that does not happen soon, the Trump administration should take steps to selectively ease travel restrictions that impact medical education and access to healthcare services, according to 12 different physician organizations. The 12 organizations -- which include the American College of Physicians, the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Society of Hematology, and the American Society of Nephrology -- said in a letter sent to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly that they were particularly concerned that "by restricting entry of physicians and medical students from seven designated Muslim majority countries, the order will undermine medical education and result in patients losing access to their doctors." "We are also greatly concerned that the 120-day ban on accepting refugees, and the indefinite ban on Syrian refugees, will contribute to an ongoing public health crisis for those affected, needlessly subjecting them to violence, injury, illness, deprivation and even death," the letter continued. While the groups said they were pleased that the order had been temporarily stayed, they also recommended four steps the administration could take in the meantime to selectively ease travel bans on affected patients and healthcare personnel: http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/WorkForce/62990?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-02-10&eun=g721819d0r&pos=0