Recent coverage of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse has focused public attention on the case, yet Jocalyn Clark highlights that this focus often obscures critical issues: the rights, health, and pursuit of justice for survivors, as well as the role of the medical profession in enabling harm.
Clark’s analysis of the ‘Epstein files’ reveals that prominent physicians contributed to legitimizing Epstein, providing access and a sense of safety that shielded those in power and perpetuated harm. Examined through a global health justice perspective, this case illustrates how proximity to wealth and status can undermine professional integrity, and how institutional responses may prioritize reputation over accountability. The implications are clear: responses to gender-based violence must foreground survivors’ rights and health, recognize such violence as a significant health concern, and ensure that institutional processes move beyond documentation toward meaningful investigation and accountability.
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