Journal of Nursing and Health Studies

The deportation of sick illegal immigrants-is it moral?

9^th Annual Congress on Nursing & Healthcare
December 03-04, 2018 Amsterdam, Netherlands

Miriam I Siebzehner and Dorit Rubinstein

Central Health District-Ministry of Health, Israel Geriatrics Division, Ministry of Health, Israel

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nurs Health Stud

DOI: 10.21767/2574-2825-C5-015

Abstract

In recent decades, efforts have been made by migrant workers from third world countries, to immigrate to developed countries in order to improve their wages and quality of life. This is often done in contravention of immigration laws of the destination country, especially when seeking a better life, such as infiltration of migrant workers to the United States from Mexico. This phenomenon also existed in Israel, especially from the Egypt border. The possibility of sick illegal immigrant`s access to health care institutions in most European countries is limited to emergency situations. In the United States, hospitals deal with the constant need to health expenditures, some are choosing "unlawful" deportations of illegal patients in order to save money. Utilitarianism states that the ends justify the means’ i.e. the value of an action is determined by its contribution to overall utility and happiness while minimizing the suffering. This doctrine argues that actions are morally correct, as they tend to increase happiness. This philosophy depends on consequentiality and is considered as a selfish approach, as it doesn’t take into account any kind of suffering which the society may face due to a particular action plan. In contrast, deontology is based on fairness and social justice. The moral value of the action lies in the act itself. There are things that are worth doing and there are things that we will do and no matter what will be the outcome. The presentation will highlight the questions that arise from the debate about the morality of deportation of sick illegal immigrants, the ethical approaches involved and conclusions regarding health coverage for illegal immigrants.

Biography

Miriam I Siebzehner Deputy Director and Senior Researcher Israeli Center for Technology Assessment in Health Care (ICTAHC ). She holds two MA's in Nursing from Tel Aviv University and in Public Administration from Harvard’s John F Kennedy School of Government. She received her PhD in Health Management from Ben-Gurion University. She is the Chief Nurse Officer of the Central Health District, Ministry of Health. She has published more than 30 articles in professional Israeli and international journals. She has lectured in professional educational programs in Tel-Aviv University. During 20 years, she is a Consultant to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Division for International Cooperation on Health Issues for Latin America and selected African countries. She has received professional awards: The International Council of Nurses and 3M, Israel Award for outstanding professional achievements, the Ministry of Health Outstanding Employee Award in recognition of highest level of excellence, The Prime Minister Office Civil Service Commission Outstanding Governmental Employee Award.

E-mail: Miri.siebzehner@lbm.health.gov.il