We Need to Talk about The Danger of Calling 911 for Help: Advice for Healthcare Providers

Sonya Massey’s murder is a national tragedy—a chilling reminder that the system isn’t broken; it’s working as designed. As healthcare providers, we must confront the real risks of calling 911, especially for racially minoritized and disabled individuals.

🔹 Nearly half of those killed by police have a disability.
🔹 Black disabled people face double the arrest risk of their white counterparts.
🔹 Individuals with serious mental illness are 10x more likely to experience police violence.

Recommending 911 without full informed consent is negligent. We must educate, advocate, and build real alternatives for crisis response.