By Kevin Czerwinski, Media Relations Director, Office of Amy Paulin, Assemblywoman, New York State Assembly

Apr. 20, 2016:  Legislation authored by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin to help physicians and health care workers better identify human trafficking victims was passed by the New York State Assembly on Tuesday, April 12, as part of the legislative body's acknowledgment of National Crime Victims' Rights Week (April 10-16).

Paulin's bill requires every general hospital, public health center, diagnostic center, treatment center, and outpatient department to provide for the identification, assessment, and appropriate treatment or referral of persons suspected of being human trafficking victims as well as training for personnel in dealing with human trafficking victims.

"Trafficking victims may at some point seek treatment from a health care facility, such as a hospital, public health center, outpatient department, or treatment center," Paulin said. "We need to ensure that the health professionals who are most likely to come into contact with a potential trafficking victim are trained to recognize the signs of human trafficking so that they know what to do to provide the appropriate care and referral to help the victim escape her or his life of violence and enslavement."

Signs of trafficking include bruises, tattoos, branding such as barcodes, dollar signs, or names of male captors, scars, burns, and orthopedic trauma, as well as psychological signs such as extreme anxiety, PTSD symptoms, anger, and belligerency. 

"The health care facility where the victim is permitted by her trafficker to seek medical services may be our best and only chance to identify a trafficking victim and free her from the vicious cycle of pain, suffering, and degradation," Paulin said. 

Pictured here:  Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. 

Photo courtesy Amy Paulin's office