Campaign to Invite UCSF To Declare Police Violence as a Public Health Crisis
This letter was sent on June 15, 2020 to the leadership of UCSF with over 1,200 signatures representing people from every school of UCSF (Dentistry, Global Health Sciences, Graduate, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and numerous Master's and specialty programs), every medical speciality, health clinics and organizations across the Bay Area and CA, and supporting student-led and community-led organizations.
To the Leadership at UCSF:
In this time of unprecedented unity across the United States, and the world, to end police violence against Black people and end racism, we call on UCSF to join this movement and demonstrate its leadership in these goals as they align with our mission statement and values.
The Black Caucus, Student National Medical Association, White Coats 4 Black Lives, Association of Native American Medical Students, Native American Health Alliance, Do No Harm Coalition, Asians 4 Black Lives, Nursing Students of Color, Latino Medical Student Association, APAMSA, PrideMed, Interprofessional Diversity and Equity Alliance, Clinica Martin Baro together with other campus and community organizations call on UCSF to:
· Unequivocally declare police violence is a public health crisis.
· Commit resources, funding and their institutional influence to directly address this public health crisis.
For too long, the Black community has suffered the impacts of police violence in San Francisco and across this nation. Young Black San Franciscans--Mario Woods, Idriss Stelley, Jessica Nelson Williams--were killed by police, just to name a few. Members of our own UCSF staff and our patients have had their loved ones killed by police and/or themselves been the target of police violence. Many of us care for our patient’s wounds. We care for the children and family members who are forever impacted by grief, depression, anxiety and PTSD after losing a loved one to police violence. Through the initial trauma of a police killing and the re-traumatization from legal structures that obstruct justice, these killings have lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of Black communities as well as our providers, trainees, and staff who care for, work with and and/or a part of these communities.
As healthcare workers, trainees, patients, caregivers and community members committed to ensuring the best health and wellness of our communities, we stand by the American Public Health Association Policy statement from 2018, Addressing Law Enforcement Violence as a Public Health Issue Policy (https://apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-statements/policy-database/2019/01/29/law-enforcement-violence). We applaud the AMA for specifically and unequivocally denouncing police violence. (https://www.ama-assn.org/about/leadership/police-brutality-must-stop). In addition, we support the AAMC Statement on Police Brutality and Racism in America and Their Impact on Health. (https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/press-releases/aamc-statement-police-brutality-and-racism-america-and-their-impact-health)
++ In light of Chancellor Hawgood's statement on the evening of June 9th that police violence is a public health issue that UCSF is committed to address, and in light of the risk that COVID places on public gathering, we have decided to POSTPONE the rally until a later time when our Black colleagues call on us to support their future articulated needs of the institution. We will deliver this petition to UCSF leadership as a demonstration of the wide support there is on campus and in our community to do the work of eliminating police violence.We want UCSF and our surrounding community to be a place where Black lives always matter--every single day. ++
May UCSF continue to redefine the possible by uplifting that which has been neglected for far too long. May we serve as a bold example to other healthcare institutions across the world as we seek to heal the legacy wounds that afflict our society, in an effort to improve health outcomes for all.
This letter was sent on June 15, 2020 to the leadership of UCSF with over 1,200 signatures representing people from every school of UCSF (Dentistry, Global Health Sciences, Graduate, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and numerous Master's and specialty programs), every medical speciality, health clinics and organizations across the Bay Area and CA, and supporting student-led and community-led organizations.
To the Leadership at UCSF:
In this time of unprecedented unity across the United States, and the world, to end police violence against Black people and end racism, we call on UCSF to join this movement and demonstrate its leadership in these goals as they align with our mission statement and values.
The Black Caucus, Student National Medical Association, White Coats 4 Black Lives, Association of Native American Medical Students, Native American Health Alliance, Do No Harm Coalition, Asians 4 Black Lives, Nursing Students of Color, Latino Medical Student Association, APAMSA, PrideMed, Interprofessional Diversity and Equity Alliance, Clinica Martin Baro together with other campus and community organizations call on UCSF to:
· Unequivocally declare police violence is a public health crisis.
· Commit resources, funding and their institutional influence to directly address this public health crisis.
For too long, the Black community has suffered the impacts of police violence in San Francisco and across this nation. Young Black San Franciscans--Mario Woods, Idriss Stelley, Jessica Nelson Williams--were killed by police, just to name a few. Members of our own UCSF staff and our patients have had their loved ones killed by police and/or themselves been the target of police violence. Many of us care for our patient’s wounds. We care for the children and family members who are forever impacted by grief, depression, anxiety and PTSD after losing a loved one to police violence. Through the initial trauma of a police killing and the re-traumatization from legal structures that obstruct justice, these killings have lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of Black communities as well as our providers, trainees, and staff who care for, work with and and/or a part of these communities.
As healthcare workers, trainees, patients, caregivers and community members committed to ensuring the best health and wellness of our communities, we stand by the American Public Health Association Policy statement from 2018, Addressing Law Enforcement Violence as a Public Health Issue Policy (https://apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-statements/policy-database/2019/01/29/law-enforcement-violence). We applaud the AMA for specifically and unequivocally denouncing police violence. (https://www.ama-assn.org/about/leadership/police-brutality-must-stop). In addition, we support the AAMC Statement on Police Brutality and Racism in America and Their Impact on Health. (https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/press-releases/aamc-statement-police-brutality-and-racism-america-and-their-impact-health)
++ In light of Chancellor Hawgood's statement on the evening of June 9th that police violence is a public health issue that UCSF is committed to address, and in light of the risk that COVID places on public gathering, we have decided to POSTPONE the rally until a later time when our Black colleagues call on us to support their future articulated needs of the institution. We will deliver this petition to UCSF leadership as a demonstration of the wide support there is on campus and in our community to do the work of eliminating police violence.We want UCSF and our surrounding community to be a place where Black lives always matter--every single day. ++
May UCSF continue to redefine the possible by uplifting that which has been neglected for far too long. May we serve as a bold example to other healthcare institutions across the world as we seek to heal the legacy wounds that afflict our society, in an effort to improve health outcomes for all.
Letter to Mayor Breed #HousingIsTheCure
May 5th, 2020
Dear Mayor Breed:
We are frontline healthcare and public health workers urging you to immediately house our unhoused people. The COVID-19 public health order went into effect seven weeks ago. The vast majority of people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco still do not have the ability to safely shelter in place. This puts them at risk. It puts our health system at risk, including ourselves. It puts our whole city at risk. We took an oath to do no harm and must act to protect the safety and health of our people.
Unhoused people have a much higher likelihood of contracting the SARS-Co-V2 virus that causes COVID19, and have a much higher mortality rate. With most shelters closed, they have no choice but to sleep on the streets, in sleeping bags, or in tents. They do not have access to private restrooms, which is essential to limit the spread of the virus through regular hand washing and avoidance of SARS-Co-V2 contaminated feces. The majority of San Francisco’s homeless population have chronic medical conditions that put them at a higher risk of complications from COVID19, even death.
Structural inequalities have become most evident during this pandemic, where both racial and economic disparities disproportionately compromise the health and well-being of communities who have been historically marginalized in our city. While only 5% of San Franciscans are Black, they represent 37% of our unhoused population. We firmly believe that our city has an opportunity to combat the racist structures, while also sending an urgent message nationwide about the public health concerns for those most vulnerable.
Our community needs a humane and medically-indicated response as outlined in an April 2020 report from UC Berkeley Public Health, For the Good of Us All. We have been working hard to keep our community healthy and safe in our hospitals and clinics. Yet, we have watched as COVID19 spreads rampantly in SROs and shelters and as unhoused people die in our streets. We are concerned as many more are teetering on the brink of homelessness, unable to pay rent or mortgages due to the economic impact of COVID19.
The toll of inaction is also impacting frontline healthcare workers who are currently experiencing high moral distress. We are forced to discharge unhoused ill people from the hospital to the street, with no guarantee of humane shelter in the midst of a pandemic. On April 14th, the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an emergency ordinance to offer our unhoused people hotel rooms. We urge you to stop obstructing this process.
We join together in demanding the following:
Hotel rooms offered to all homeless San Franciscans.
Universal COVID-19 nasopharyngeal PCR and serum antibody testing available to all homeless San Franciscans and the people who serve them.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) available to all people living and working in congregate settings (including the Isolation and Quarantine and Shelter in Place hotels), with clear protocols guiding use.
Access for all nonprofits that work with homeless clients to serve their clients within the hotels to ensure continuity of services and adequate support inside.
A commitment to center the voices and leadership of people experiencing homelessness in all city plans and activities that impact them.
A bridge to long term housing for all unhoused people.
This pandemic is offering us an opportunity to correct the course of our city. It shows where we have been blind and negligent to human suffering, and where we must open our eyes and respond with care. Let’s build a culture of care that prioritizes the most vulnerable among us. Let’s recognize that for our neighbors experiencing homelessness, safe housing is the first and necessary step towards wellness.
Sincerely,
Juliana Morris, MD/EdM, Clinical Instructor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, UCSF, Do No Harm Coalition
Rupa Marya, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, UCSF, Do No Harm Coalition
Olivia Park, MD/MPH Candidate Class of 2020, UCSF, Do No Harm Coalition
May 5th, 2020
Dear Mayor Breed:
We are frontline healthcare and public health workers urging you to immediately house our unhoused people. The COVID-19 public health order went into effect seven weeks ago. The vast majority of people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco still do not have the ability to safely shelter in place. This puts them at risk. It puts our health system at risk, including ourselves. It puts our whole city at risk. We took an oath to do no harm and must act to protect the safety and health of our people.
Unhoused people have a much higher likelihood of contracting the SARS-Co-V2 virus that causes COVID19, and have a much higher mortality rate. With most shelters closed, they have no choice but to sleep on the streets, in sleeping bags, or in tents. They do not have access to private restrooms, which is essential to limit the spread of the virus through regular hand washing and avoidance of SARS-Co-V2 contaminated feces. The majority of San Francisco’s homeless population have chronic medical conditions that put them at a higher risk of complications from COVID19, even death.
Structural inequalities have become most evident during this pandemic, where both racial and economic disparities disproportionately compromise the health and well-being of communities who have been historically marginalized in our city. While only 5% of San Franciscans are Black, they represent 37% of our unhoused population. We firmly believe that our city has an opportunity to combat the racist structures, while also sending an urgent message nationwide about the public health concerns for those most vulnerable.
Our community needs a humane and medically-indicated response as outlined in an April 2020 report from UC Berkeley Public Health, For the Good of Us All. We have been working hard to keep our community healthy and safe in our hospitals and clinics. Yet, we have watched as COVID19 spreads rampantly in SROs and shelters and as unhoused people die in our streets. We are concerned as many more are teetering on the brink of homelessness, unable to pay rent or mortgages due to the economic impact of COVID19.
The toll of inaction is also impacting frontline healthcare workers who are currently experiencing high moral distress. We are forced to discharge unhoused ill people from the hospital to the street, with no guarantee of humane shelter in the midst of a pandemic. On April 14th, the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an emergency ordinance to offer our unhoused people hotel rooms. We urge you to stop obstructing this process.
We join together in demanding the following:
Hotel rooms offered to all homeless San Franciscans.
Universal COVID-19 nasopharyngeal PCR and serum antibody testing available to all homeless San Franciscans and the people who serve them.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) available to all people living and working in congregate settings (including the Isolation and Quarantine and Shelter in Place hotels), with clear protocols guiding use.
Access for all nonprofits that work with homeless clients to serve their clients within the hotels to ensure continuity of services and adequate support inside.
A commitment to center the voices and leadership of people experiencing homelessness in all city plans and activities that impact them.
A bridge to long term housing for all unhoused people.
This pandemic is offering us an opportunity to correct the course of our city. It shows where we have been blind and negligent to human suffering, and where we must open our eyes and respond with care. Let’s build a culture of care that prioritizes the most vulnerable among us. Let’s recognize that for our neighbors experiencing homelessness, safe housing is the first and necessary step towards wellness.
Sincerely,
Juliana Morris, MD/EdM, Clinical Instructor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, UCSF, Do No Harm Coalition
Rupa Marya, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, UCSF, Do No Harm Coalition
Olivia Park, MD/MPH Candidate Class of 2020, UCSF, Do No Harm Coalition
Opposition to SB 1045 Conservatorship Bill
SB1045 is a California bill that expands the usage of INVOLUNTARY care for individuals experiencing homelessness+ substance use disorder who have had 8 or more involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations (termed 5150's in California) in the past year. Do No Harm Coalition joined a coalition of voluntary service providers and organizers to speak out in opposition to the bill's implementation in San Francisco. Despite the widespread opposition, in June 2019 the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to implement SB1045 in San Francisco. This is extremely problematic for many reasons including the following:
See DNH Member Yakira Teitel quoted in an article on SB1045 here.
- It will lead to people losing the ability to make decisions about what happens to their body, their pet, there they live, what they eat, how they spend their time and their money.
- It gives the police the incentive to detain people under 5150 holds (which is in of itself traumatic)
- It expands and diverts resources towards involuntary treatment, while there are thousands of people waiting for voluntary treatment and housing that doesn't exist.
- There is no evidence to suggest this would reduce homelessness or substance use.
See DNH Member Yakira Teitel quoted in an article on SB1045 here.
