Medical Negligence = Human Rights Violation

In my work this year, it has not been uncommon to hear stories from migrants about the medical negligence they have experienced in Mexican hospitals. The recent amputee who was not given anything to drink and forced to bathe himself, the injured man who could have had his leg repaired, but was amputated instead... the list goes on. It is generally belileved that the reason for this negligence is that a migrant doesn'tdeserve medical treatment. This belief is clearly discriminatory. And when we consider that access to health care, especially in life and death situations, is a human right, these instances of negligence are clear violations to that right.

**URGENT ACTION**
While certainly not an isolated occurrence, a recent case of Yasser, a Nicaraguan migrant who was formerly staying in one of the shelters where I work, has gotten some special media and international attention. Although supposedly in Chiapas, Mexico, migrants are able to access health services at public hospitals, Yasser was denied medical attention in one of these hospitals because of his immigration status. His wound became infected and had to be amputated. Amnesty International has put out a nice summary of the case and suggestions for an action that can be taken to help preserve Yasser's human rights and hold the doctors who denied him care responsible. Please help by writing a quick letter. Follow the link below to learn more:

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR41/020/2009/en