Episode 369: What Should a Nurse Do When a Trafficker Is in the Room

Dr. Sigrid Burruss and Dr. Adrienne Schlatter join Dr. Sandie Morgan to explore what human trafficking actually looks like in healthcare settings, why safety matters more than rushing to the rescue, and how hospitals can build responses that help patients feel seen, supported, and safer -- with a close look at California's new SB 963, requiring emergency departments to screen every patient for trafficking.

Chapters

(00:00) - Intro + SB 963: The New California Law

(03:08) - How Trafficking Survivors Come to Healthcare

(05:51) - Recognizing the Signs and Using Screening Tools

(10:00) - The Sticker Method: Creative Strategies for Privacy

(14:36) - Planting Seeds Instead of Rushing to Rescue

(19:27) - Training the Whole Team — Even the Cleaning Staff

(24:40) - Where to Find Resources and Training

(28:01) - Consent Laws, Reporting, and Adult Patients

Dr. Sigrid Burruss & Dr. Adrienne Schlatter

Dr. Sigrid Burruss is a board-certified surgeon at UCI Health specializing in trauma surgery and surgical critical care. She earned her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, completed her general surgery residency at UCLA Medical Center, and a fellowship in surgical critical care at UC San Diego Medical Center. Her professional interests include trauma prevention, reducing trauma recidivism, and understanding the relationship between mental health and physical trauma. She is engaged in connecting patients and families with community support systems to promote long-term recovery, and serves on the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force Healthcare Subcommittee and CSEC steering committee as a leader in clinical response to child sexual exploitation and human trafficking.