"Despite Legacy's policies largely reflecting appropriate compliance with statutory obligations, there is a growing gap between Legacy's written policies and the actual practices nurses are witnessing," said the letter, signed by ONA attorney Thomas Doyle. "As a result, ONA bargaining unit members and their patients are being placed at risk." "Legacy cannot simultaneously claim to follow HIPAA and Legacy's own non-public area designations, while allowing effectively unlimited, unregulated officer presence in clinical spaces," the letter said."
"They said US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents bring detainees to Legacy almost daily, often to treat injuries sustained during violent immigration arrests. Medical staff says ICE agents have been permitted to stay bedside with patients, even during private, clinical conversations and treatments requiring sensitive attention. Nurses say they're concerned Legacy's policies around immigration enforcement are unethical, harm public health, and damage the organization's reputation in the community."
The Oregon Nurses Association sent a December 10 letter to Legacy Emanuel President Bahaa Wanly raising concerns about hospital compliance with state and federal law and organizational policies. The letter, signed by ONA attorney Thomas Doyle, states a growing gap between written policies and nurses' observed practices, placing bargaining unit members and patients at risk. Multiple staff spoke on condition of anonymity, reporting that DHS and ICE bring detainees to Legacy frequently and that agents have been permitted bedside presence during private clinical interactions. The association warns these practices may violate HIPAA, non-public area designations, and ethical obligations, and that they harm public health and community trust.
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