Beyond Do No Harm Network Sign-On

Beyond Do No Harm Network Sign-On
Interrupting Criminalization (IC) is an initiative led by researchers Andrea J. Ritchie and Mariame Kaba. The project aims to interrupt and end the growing criminalization and incarceration of women, girls, trans, and gender nonconforming people of color for criminalized acts related to public order, poverty, child welfare, drug use, survival and self-defense, including criminalization and incarceration of survivors of violence.

Over the last five years IC has been working at the intersections of abolition and healthcare to develop the Beyond Do No Harm Principles, organizing health care providers, public health workers, and researchers to recommit to caring for people by refusing to participate in criminalization:
1. End police and ICE presence in hospitals and in or near health care facilities
2. End information gathering and documentation that is not directly relevant or related to the person’s course of care
3. End screening and testing without explicit and informed consent
4. End the practice of calling police on suspicion of fraudulent identification documents
5. Stop calling police on people with unmet mental health or medical needs
6. Stop calling police on people in possession of, distributing, or using drugs
7. End mandated reporting
8. Stop supporting prosecution in cases against people who manage their own care or offer community-based care, fail to seek care, refuse care, or fail to disclose their private medical information
9. Stop participating in or supporting prosecution in cases of transmission of infectious diseases, including HIV
10. Stop participating in or supporting prosecution in cases related to drug use or overdose
11. Stop providing and/or sanctioning substandard/violative care for people who are in custody or incarcerated in jails, prisons, detention centers, residential centers, group homes, and state facilities
12. Stop punishing other health care providers, public health workers, and researchers by calling police on them, reporting them for disciplinary action, or terminating their employment for their refusal to participate in systems of harm
13. Stop collaborating with the criminal punishment system to violate people in custody, including through performing cavity searches at the request of police or prison officials; evaluating competency to stand trial; experimenting on and sterilizing people who are incarcerated; facilitating torture; or administering the death penalty.
We believe that trust is essential for health care. Criminalization in the context of seeking health care deters patients from seeking out necessary care and assistance out of fear of surveillance or persecution by law enforcement, child welfare, or immigration authorities. Moreover, participating in criminalization is not aligned with accepted medical, midwifery, and other healing philosophies, ethics or standards of care and almost always involves violating the principles of confidentiality and informed consent.

Therefore, we are asking health providers, public health workers, and researchers to be bold -- to refuse to participate in criminalization and recommit to caring for people.
What is the IC Beyond Do No Harm Network?
We are gathering information to help people network around the BDNH Principles based on their roles, the movement work they are already doing, and their location, recognizing that we must work together to interrupt criminalization.

“Everything worthwhile is done with other people.” - Mariame Kaba

We will not share this information publicly, we will only share this information with other network members in your area to help you connect around struggles.
Name*
Pronouns
Email*
Where are you living/working geographically (to connect you with other health justice organizers and abolitionists in your area to work on local campaigns)? City, State?*
Role in the Medical Industrial Complex?*

Community Member interested in organizing around BDNH PrinciplesNon-Biomedical Healer (i.e. herbalist, acupuncturist, bodyworker, etc.)StudentPublic Health PractitionerNursePhysician (MD, DO)Advance Practice Clinician (CNM, NP, PA)Behavioral Health Specialist or TherapistSocial WorkerHospital Staff (i.e. janitorial, food services, transport, etc)Movement LawyerOther
Specialty or area of work, if applicable:
What kind of health care environment do you work in

HospitalClinicSolo practitionerAcademic Medical CenterResearch FacilityOther
Where are you in terms of your organizing to interrupt criminalization in access to care:

I don't have a plan right now and am looking to make one!I am thinking about some ideas but need support to put them into action.I am already working with a group of folks on something.
What organizations are you a part of (i.e. community org, non-profits, prof societies, unions)?*
If you are a part of an abolitionist or public health / healthcare organization that would be willing to endorse the IC BDNH principles please fill out this form
How do you want to be involved?*

Keep me posted!I will share information with folks in my workplace/networkI would like to learn more about becoming a pod leaderI would like to join a working groupI would like to be connected to other BDNH members and health justice organizers in my local areaOther
Do you have resources on interrupting criminalization in healthcare you would like to share?
Please provide a link to a website, social media, or Linked In that could point us towards your work.*
How did you hear about the Beyond Do No Harm Network? Please provide the specific name(s) of any individuals who referred you.*
Should be Empty: