Colonial Legacies, Unhoused Migrants, and Assisted Death

Editors' Note

This week, millions of Americans celebrated Thanksgiving—a day to express gratitude for the harvest, health, and other blessings. For many Native Americans, however, the holiday comes with mixed emotions as it commemorates colonialism in North America and the centuries of discrimination that followed. To help unravel the complexities, TGH is resurfacing Alejandra Martinez's piece about the aftershocks of U.S. colonialism and how families can honor Indigenous people.

Continuing the analysis of discriminatory policies, Sara Habibipour, a community health outreach worker, spotlights how the Supreme Court's ruling on City of Grants Pass v. Johnson—which gives cities the authority to arrest, cite, and fine people who sleep outside—disproportionately targets the nation's unhoused population, forcing them into a cycle of poor health and instability.

Next, journalist Jenaye Johnson charts the global rise of assisted death, comparing how countries integrate medical aid in dying (MAID) into palliative care. Though some have expressed ethical and moral concerns that MAID could take advantage of young patients with nonfatal disabilities, data shows that the majority of patients who opt for assisted deaths are older than 65 with terminal illnesses.

Journalist Anika Nayak wraps up the issue by exploring how South Carolina is incentivizing medical students to pursue geriatrics through its Geriatric Loan Forgiveness Program. The state is tapping nonprofits, government agencies, and professional societies to provide meaningful support for its growing elderly population.

Until next week!—Nsikan Akpan, Managing Editor, and Caroline Kantis, Associate Editor