Ottawa has a quiet but growing network of healthcare workers stepping up to fight one of the most underreported human rights issues in North America: human trafficking. Among them is Dr. James Frizzell, a forensic educator and member of the International Association of Forensic Nurses, whose work is putting a spotlight on how frontline medical staff can identify and support trafficking survivors who might otherwise slip through the cracks.
Why Forensic Nurses Matter
Human trafficking affects people of all ages and backgrounds, and survivors frequently come into contact with the healthcare system long before they ever encounter law enforcement or social services. Emergency rooms, walk-in clinics, and community health centres are often the only place a trafficking victim will show up — and forensic nurses are trained to notice the subtle physical and behavioural signs that something isn't right. Dr. Frizzell's work focuses on giving nurses the tools to ask the right questions, document evidence properly, and connect survivors with the resources they need without putting them at further risk.
Building Local Awareness in Ottawa
For Ottawa residents, this kind of training has real local stakes. As the nation's capital and a major transportation hub along Highway 417 and the VIA Rail corridor, Ottawa sees the kind of transient population flow that experts say can make cities vulnerable to trafficking networks. Local hospitals and clinics across the city — from The Ottawa Hospital's downtown and Civic campuses to community health centres in neighbourhoods like Vanier and Overbrook — are increasingly incorporating trafficking-awareness training into standard care protocols, echoing the kind of education Dr. Frizzell champions on a national level. Ottawa's proximity to the Ontario-Quebec border and its role as a government and diplomatic centre also mean local advocates say the city can't afford to treat trafficking as a problem that only happens elsewhere.
What Forensic Nurses Are Trained to Look For
Forensic nursing education emphasizes trauma-informed care — approaching patients in a way that doesn't retraumatize them while still gathering the information needed to help. That can include recognizing signs like inconsistent stories about injuries, a companion who insists on speaking for the patient, or a reluctance to make eye contact or answer basic questions. Dr. Frizzell's approach stresses that nurses don't need to solve the whole problem in one visit — sometimes just planting the seed of trust, or leaving a survivor with a resource card, can be the first step toward someone getting out of an exploitative situation.
Getting Involved Locally
Ottawa residents interested in supporting anti-trafficking efforts can look to local organizations that partner with healthcare providers on training and survivor support services. Community members are also encouraged to familiarize themselves with the warning signs so they can recognize a potential trafficking situation, whether in a healthcare setting or elsewhere in daily life around the city.
As Dr. Frizzell's work makes clear, fighting trafficking isn't just a job for police — it's a role healthcare professionals across Ottawa and beyond are increasingly being trained to play.
Source: Ottawa Life Magazine
