Body-packing, or the internal concealment of illicit drugs, has been described worldwide
and is typically used to smuggle drugs across secure borders. Body-packers who swallow
or insert packets of illicit drugs into body cavities are at risk for acute toxicity
and gastrointestinal obstruction. We present a case of body-packing that exposed the
challenging ethical and legal aspects of caring for such patients. We bring them to
the forefront of discussion in light of the growing opioid epidemic, because there
are no specific guidelines for handling these complex situations.
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References
- Removal of foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal tract in adults: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Clinical Guideline.Endoscopy. 2016; 48: 489-496https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-100456
- Body packing—the internal concealment of illicit drugs.N Engl J Med. 2003; 349: 2519-2526https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra022719
- Ethics of medical care for body packers (drug smugglers): untangling a web of fears and conflicts of interest.East Mediterr Health J. 2011; 17: 624-629
- Pediatric body packing.Pediatr Emerg Care. 2005; 21: 744-746https://doi.org/10.1097/01.pec.0000186428.07636.18
Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 11, 2018
Footnotes
Funding: None.
Conflict of Interest: None.
Authorship: EV, TS, and KS collaborated in literature search, case description, and elaboration. BM collaborated in literature search and critical case review. PP collaborated with critical case review.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
