Why Pediatricians Need Lawyers to Keep Children Healthy, Barry Zuckerman, et al., 114 Pediatrics 224 (2004)

This article explores the many rationales for including lawyers as part of the health care team for children from low-income families. According to the authors, “many child health conditions can be traced to social factors that are potentially remediable with enforcement of existing laws and regulations.” Adding a lawyer to the team of doctors, nurses, and social workers increases the ability of the team to meet the specific needs of children whose health is jeopardized by factors that are beyond the family’s control. By going one step further and having lawyers on site at medical facilities, some of the traditional barriers to obtaining legal services for low income families are overcome. Although the article does not specifically address children with HIV, the application of the principles outlined in the article to the health care needs of children with HIV would be equally appropriate.