Human Trafficking: Identification, Assessment, and Patient Management in the Healthcare Setting

Steven Marks

*President, MedCom Consultants, Inc, Potomac, Maryland

Address correspondence to: Steven Marks, Consultants Inc, 1311 Fallsmead Way, Potomac, Maryland, 20854. E-mail: steven.marks52@gmail.com.

Disclosure Statement: Steven Marks reports having no financial or advisory relationship with any corporate, medical, or political organization doing work related to this paper or other business activity at MedCom Consultants, Inc.

Approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission in accordance with House Bill 2059, 86th Session, 2019.

Please note: This course recently underwent a re-evaluation and minor revisions to adhere to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services' 2025 revised standards for human trafficking continuing education (CE) requirements that are specific to Texas-licensed healthcare professionals. During this re-evaluation period, this course was not approved by the state to fulfill these requirements, but after re-review, approval was reinstated. As a result, kindly note the following: 

• Valid dates for fulfilling human trafficking CE requirement: November 21, 2021 up to and including March 12, 2025.
• Not approved for human trafficking CE: Between March 13, 2025 and February 3, 2026
• TX reinstated approval for human trafficking CE: February 4, 2026.

For more information or specific inquiries, please contact the Texas Department of Health and Human Services at: human_trafficking@hhs.texas.gov.

ABSTRACT

The human trafficking of men, women, adolescents, and children for sexual activity, forced labor, and organ harvesting has become one of the world's most pressing social and health dilemmas of the 21st century. A leading cause of violence, trauma, and abuse, human trafficking is associated with a wide range of medical and behavioral consequences. Although a large percentage of victims seek treatment for their conditions, the majority are not identified by those who care for them because many healthcare practitioners are unaware of the characteristic signs and symptoms. Through education and institutional support, healthcare providers can more effectively use targeted tools for identifying, assessing, and managing these patients. Working cooperatively with social service agencies, patient advocates, law enforcement officials, and immigration authorities, healthcare professionals can better meet the needs of trafficking survivors by delivering compassionate, culturally sensitive, and trauma-centered care. In so doing, practitioners can help victims regain their basic human rights, autonomy, sense of safety, and ability to act in their own best interest.