Beyond Do No Harm Storytelling Media Project
Stories from Health Care Workers Interrupting Criminalization
As we fight for structural change, we want to highlight the actions individual health care workers are already taking to interrupt criminalization in the context of care, in the hopes of inspiring others to do the same.
Through our storytelling media project, and with the help of storytellers and movement artists, we are gathering and amplifying these stories in creative ways that both increase awareness of the harmful impacts of criminalization within the medical system and invite people to take action at multiple levels.
We hope these examples of health care workers and collectives resisting carceral and criminalizing approaches to care provision inspire you to take action to interrupt criminalization!
At the Beyond Do No Harm Network, we know health care workers are resisting criminalization of people seeking care every day.
Sound designer and audio mixer:
Joe Namy
Audio recordist, editor, and consulting producer:
ill Weaver for Emergence Media
Do you have a story to share that we can collaborate with you to bring to life through animation, a video, short form audio story, zine, or any other kind of media? Your story can be anonymous if you prefer!
2025 Stories
On the Consequences of Policing Patient Behavior in the Hospital
Storyteller: Community Health Center Physician, MassachusettsA physician at a community health center challenges the policing of his patients by offering a harm reduction-based approach to care.
When Healing Becomes Resistance: Interrupting HIV Criminalization
Storytellers: Lashanda Salinas, Tennessee Advocate - Health Not Prisons / Jada Hicks, Senior PJP Attorney - The Center for HIV Law and Policy An advocate and an attorney share an intimate story about the power of community and policy, and the role of health care providers in the movement to end HIV criminalization.
Fighting Housing Injustice and Detention Through Medical Advocacy
Storyteller: Primary Care Physician, New York Public Hospital A primary care physician in New York shares a strategy she uses to advocate for patient care while organizing for housing equity and migrant justice.
Restorative Justice as an Alternative to Firing a Patient
Storyteller: Community Health Center Physician, MassachusettsA physician in Massachusetts prevents a patient from being dismissed from his practice by implementing a restorative justice process.
Is it a Rule or is it a Law?
Storyteller: Resident Physician, Florida A resident physician in Florida discusses the importance of pushing back against cruel rules and policies in hospitals that impact care for incarcerated patients.
A Question is an Interruption
Storyteller: 3rd Year Medical Student, CaliforniaA medical student in California prevents security from being called on a patient's family member, emphasizing the importance of speaking up and asking questions.
Listening, Resisting, Healing: HRNA’s Fight Against Re-criminalization in B.C.
Storyteller: Corey Ranger, Registered Nurse, President - Harm Reduction Nurses AssociationA harm reduction nurse in Canada leads his community in a fight against Bill 34, which would re-criminalize public drug use
The Right to Dignity: Securing Compassionate Release for Incarcerated People
Storyteller: Internal Medicine Physician, GeorgiaA physician in Georgia utilizes compassionate release as a strategy to advance care for in-custody patients
Reclaiming the Narrative: Decriminalizing Pregnancy Through Policy and Advocacy
Storyteller: Erika A. Christensen, Later Abortion Patient Advocate, Co-Founder Patient ForwardA patient advocate who was central to passing the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) discusses the limits of legislative interventions in securing access to abortion care, and the importance of challenging criminalization at any stage of pregnancy.
2023-2024 Stories
Rural EMT Worker
Storyteller: AnonymousA rural EMT worker handles a rapidly escalating situation between a patient and medics, centering patient care and cultural competency.
Medical Doctor
Storyteller: Dr. Jamila PerrittA medical doctor fights for an incarcerated patient to get an abortion, through multiple stages of approval and bureaucracy.
Nurse Midwife
Storyteller: Ana Delgado, CNM, MSA nurse midwife helps a patient navigate family court and Child Protective Services so the patient can keep her child.
Medical Doctor and Transgender Patient
Storyteller: Dr. Laura and SeanA medical doctor talks with her transgender patient about navigating the medical system, and what medical providers can do to support transgender people.
Medical Student
Storyteller: Norman ArcherA medical student discusses the heavy police presence at his teaching hospital, and how to handle escalated situations without cops.