Overview
Recognizing the Clinical Pattern
Human trafficking is exploitation for commercial sex or for labor or services.
Human trafficking is exploitation for commercial sex or for labor or services. Under federal law, adult sex trafficking involves a commercial sex act induced through force, fraud, or coercion. Labor trafficking involves obtaining labor or services through force, fraud, or coercion. Movement across a state line, an international border, or even across town is not required. A person younger than 18 years who is involved in a commercial sex act meets the federal definition of sex trafficking without proof of force, fraud, or coercion. The nurse does not need to determine whether a crime occurred. The nursing task is to recognize reasonable concern, treat health needs, protect safety, and follow reporting law and facility procedure. Trafficking is not limited to sex trafficking or to women and girls. Men, boys, women, girls, immigrants, citizens, and people of any gender identity can be exploited. Labor trafficking may occur in agriculture, domestic work, construction, restaurants, factories, cleaning services, or other work settings. An injury that seems inconsistent with a patient’s stated job deserves the same careful attention as a sexually transmitted infection in...