Police officers are often present in emergency rooms with the guise of security, which makes it easy for them to get private patient information. Some states have mandatory reporting requirements where hospital staff are required to involve the police. Critics of this practice argue that it is opportunistic at the hands of police, and them to use hospitals as "traps" for those not yet convicted of crimes. However, this practice can also make hospital workers feel more at ease and effectively hold suspects responsible for their actions.

The innovative CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology allows scientists to pinpoint defective genetic material, opening doors to treating illnesses like sickle cell anemia. Another type of gene editing, germline, works on reproductive cells at the embryo level. Germline editing poses the risk of the level of control going as far as creating "designer babies" by selecting for desired traits.

In many poorer countries, such as Nigeria, people will seek to earn a medical degree in order to better their chances to immigrate to richer countries like the United States. This causes "medical brain drain," which is the act of medical professionals leaving their home country for better living conditions. This can be problematic, as it leaves countries like Nigeria without necessary healthcare workers, worsening the medical needs of the nation. Still, these doctors are seeking better lives for themselves and their families, taking advantage of the immigration system of richer nations.