Four in 10 pediatricians say children in their care skipped medical appointments during the past 12 months because of fears about immigration status, according to a survey of about 2,600 pediatricians published in Pediatrics. The American Academy of Pediatrics conducted the survey, and another 38% of respondents said they were not sure whether immigration concerns played a role, STAT reported.
The authors wrote that the large share of uncertain answers suggests "an underestimation of the families affected." The finding reflects what doctors believe is happening in their practices. It is not a count of missed visits drawn from medical records.
