Review of inbound medical tourism and legal details of obtaining a visa for treatment of head and neck cancer. Issue 8 (25th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Young, Lauren K.; Vimawala, Swar; Ahmad, Nadir; Kushnir, Vlad; Bonawitz, Steven C.; Brody, Joshua D.; Enriquez, Miriam L.; Koshkareva, Yekaterina A.
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 41:Issue 8(2019)
• Page Start: E125
• Page End: E132
• Publication Date: 2019-03-25
• Subjects: head and neck cancer -- inbound medical tourism -- medical visa; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.25743
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

Abstract: Background: We aim to provide a review of inbound medical tourism and the legal process of obtaining a visa for medical/surgical treatment for the patients with head and neck cancer. Methods: We reviewed current statistics and the medical and legal literature regarding inbound medical tourism and the process of obtaining a visa for patients traveling to the United States for medical treatment. To illustrate this process, we present a case of an advanced‐staged and disfiguring facial polymorphous high‐grade adenocarcinoma in a previously healthy 29‐year‐old woman from Liberia. Results: This report provides a synopsis of available statistical data on inbound medical tourism and the legal aspects of obtaining a visa for patients seeking medical care from abroad. Conclusions: Medical tourists traveling to the United States for treatment of head and neck pathologies face considerable barriers in obtaining prompt care, leading to a possible increased disease burden and difficulty in rendering oncologic treatment.