In November, The Lancet, a respected medical journal, started a new monthly series of case studies. This series aims to highlight how social and cultural factors affect a patient’s health, moving beyond just clinical diagnoses.
Traditionally, medical case studies are concise summaries that focus purely on a patient’s medical problems and treatments. However, this new initiative includes insights from experts in social sciences. Their goal is to help healthcare leaders and policymakers address the root causes of health disparities worldwide.
The second case study, published recently, was led by Carlos Martinez, a medical anthropologist and professor at UC Santa Cruz. His team explored the struggles faced by asylum seekers trying to access healthcare. They emphasized that medical professionals need to learn how to involve community organizations to tackle the social, political, and legal hurdles impacting patient care.
“To truly improve health outcomes, especially for marginalized groups, we must consider non-medical factors,” Martinez noted. “Yet many clinicians lack the tools to address these issues. Our case encourages them to collaborate with community groups that are already working to support these populations.”
Martinez’s study follows the case of a 45-year-old man seeking asylum in the U.S. He suffered from kidney stone complications. After being diagnosed in Tijuana, he was told he needed a specific treatment that neither the local clinic nor the public health system could provide. Unfortunately, after crossing into the U.S., he was detained by ICE for three weeks without receiving proper medical care.
During this time, he reached out to Migrant Advocates, a non-profit human rights group. Despite the pain he was in, he faced barriers to receiving treatment. Eventually, with the help of his doctor from Tijuana, they pushed for his medical needs to be met, but not without significant delays that left him with lasting damage.
Back in 2022, when strict COVID-19 policies were in place, the situation for asylum seekers was even more challenging. Martinez explained that these policies created a hostile environment that exacerbated health risks for migrants. As highlighted by Amnesty International, avenues for seeking asylum have become almost entirely blocked, leaving many in desperate situations.
To improve care, Martinez advocates for what he calls “structural intercompetency.” This means healthcare providers need to learn about the broader influences on patient health and effectively collaborate with legal and social advocates. This approach is crucial for any situation involving marginalized groups, from asylum seekers to victims of violence.
One way to achieve this is through medical-legal partnerships. These collaborations place legal experts within healthcare settings, helping patients navigate their rights and access necessary services. Such partnerships have been shown to reduce stress for patients and lower emergency visits.
Martinez also emphasizes the role of medical schools. He argues they should include interdisciplinary training that incorporates knowledge from social sciences. This would better prepare future doctors to work alongside community advocates and understand the broader social issues affecting health.
Despite the advantages of these approaches, some medical schools are pulling back on curriculum addressing social determinants of health. Martinez hopes this new series in The Lancet will encourage educational institutions to reinstate and expand such programs. He believes that better-trained healthcare providers will lead to improved patient outcomes and less strain on health systems.
In summary, addressing the complex interplay of medical care and social advocacy is essential for effective healthcare. By training healthcare professionals to understand these dynamics and collaborate with community organizations, we could move toward a more equitable health system.
For more insights on this topic, explore sources like [The Lancet](https://www.thelancet.com) and research reports from [Amnesty International](https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/02/the-right-to-seek-asylum-does-not-exist-at-u-s-mexico-border/).
