Community demands stronger protections <\/p>\n
Since then, community stakeholders who are part of the Boyle Heights Immigrant Rights Network presented demands at a Nov. 5 meeting with hospital leaders, including Kerry Heinrich, the president and chief executive officer of Adventist Health System, and John Raffoul, president of Adventist Health White Memorial.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As part of those demands, the network \u2014 which is made up of residents and community leaders from organizations like Legacy LA, InnerCity Struggle and Centro CSO \u2014 wants immigration agents out of patient rooms during medical consultations and procedures. Many in the network have deep ties to White Memorial, including having friends who were born there or taking their children for care at the hospital.<\/p>\n
Hospital issues memo in response to community concerns<\/p>\n
In response, White Memorial, in a Nov. 12 memo, thanked community leaders for sharing their concerns and outlined the following five points:<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery patient\u2019s privacy is protected and respected. We follow the laws that keep people\u2019s medical information private, and we take that responsibility very seriously.<\/p>\n
Doctors and nurses make care decisions together with their patients. No outside groups tell them how to treat a patient.<\/p>\n
When there is a medical reason to contact a family, our team can do that through the right process. There are rules we must follow, but our goal is always to support care and connection whenever possible.<\/p>\n
Law enforcement officers cannot interfere with medical care or put anyone\u2019s safety at risk. Our hospital protects the privacy and safety of everyone here \u2014 patients, families, and staff.<\/p>\n
We stand by our care teams. They are supported and protected as they care for every person with kindness and respect.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know trust takes time to build and can be lost quickly. Many of you told us that trust has been broken, and we understand that. We want to keep earning your trust through open communication, transparency, and action, not just words,\u201d the memo reads.<\/p>\n
The memo \u2014 signed by Juan De La Cruz, president of the Adventist Health White Memorial Charitable Foundation \u2014 does not specifically address the network\u2019s demand that agents be kept out of patient rooms during medical consultations and procedures.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leaders say the memo falls short of key demands<\/p>\n
Raquel Roman, executive director of Proyecto Pastoral, which operates the Boyle Heights Immigrant Rights Network, said White Memorial\u2019s memo is a \u201cgood first attempt.\u201d But, she added, \u201cit doesn\u2019t meet the demands we presented.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is still opportunity to continue dialogue,\u201d Roman said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately, we want to make sure our community and the doctors treating our community feel safe being at White Memorial, whether they go in there on their own or if somebody gets detained by ICE,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Lucy Herrera, executive director of Legacy LA, said the memo contained \u201ca lot of gray area.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way they [White Memorial] responded in the memo makes it seem like they\u2019ve already been doing all of these things, when we\u2019ve been hearing the opposite,\u201d said Herrera.<\/p>\n
Herrera said an open dialogue with White Memorial can be beneficial. \u201cAs a coalition, I want to stay vigilant to ensure that they comply with our demands,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Adventist](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/white_memorial_hospital_7_D25A6958.jpg\")
<\/a>Adventist Health White Memorial Hospital in Boyle Heights. (Steve Saldivar \/ The LA Local)<\/p>\n