Posted on 06/02/2010 4:19:24 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
(Reuters) - Arizona's controversial new law cracking down on illegal immigration could put doctors into a pickle, an Arizona physician said in a letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine Wednesday.
Dr. Lucas Restrepo of the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix said because it specifies that anyone who "harbors" an illegal immigrant can be fined, it could affect medical personnel.
"The new Arizona state immigration bill signed into law on April 23 will seriously obstruct, if not undermine, the practice of medicine in the state of Arizona," Restrepo wrote.
"One interpretation is that health care providers in Arizona will need to ask for a passport before seeing certain patients," he said.
"This bill threatens one of the oldest traditions of medicine: physicians shall protect patients regardless of nationality or race. This legislation, if unchallenged, will force health care providers to choose between the dignity of their profession and the indignity of violating the law," Restrepo wrote.
Opponents say the law is unconstitutional and will lead to racial profiling of Hispanics, who make up about a third of Arizona's population. Roughly 11 million people are thought to be living in the United States illegally.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
“The new Arizona state immigration bill signed into law on April 23 will seriously obstruct, if not undermine, the practice of medicine in the state of Arizona,” Restrepo wrote.”
They should operate above the law?
That this came from a doctor in Phoenix would make it in the eyes of Arizonas a bit suspect.
The new Arizona state immigration bill signed into law on April 23 will seriously obstruct, if not undermine, the practice of medicine in the state of Arizona,"If that's the case, then AZ doctors are treating way too many illegal immigrants at the expense of legal residents in need.
Should be “Arizonans.”
I would think confidentiality would have a part in all this.
What about the Hospitals themselves, who are the real ‘harborers’ of the illegals, and who make big money on them by getting paid out of the emergent fund, from the Fed government, paid into by way of the taxpayers of Az. Does that make the taxpayers ‘harborers’?
Not one piece of factual evidence found in the article to support this idiot doctor’s “one interpretation of the law”.
rooters
Hwe’s lying and thats pure bullsh#t. The law only applies to law enforcement and agents of government. it would NOT apply to doctors in their practice.
B. FOR ANY LAWFUL CONTACT MADE BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY
21 OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS
22 STATE WHERE REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS
23 UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES, A REASONABLE ATTEMPT SHALL BE MADE,
24 WHEN PRACTICABLE, TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON. THE
25 PERSON’S IMMIGRATION STATUS SHALL BE VERIFIED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
26 PURSUANT TO 8 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1373(c).
24 WHEN PRACTICABLE, TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON. THE
25 PERSON’S IMMIGRATION STATUS SHALL BE VERIFIED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
26 PURSUANT TO 8 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1373(c).
This is getting old....
not worth the posting or comment...
a google search of the Doctor shows he’s from Columbia. Articles like this are stupid..you can go find any doctor who will bolster whatever argument you want to make. Meaningless.
It’s always been against the federal law to aid and abet an Illegal Alien. Maybe the quack is confused.
This is easy to say when you're getting paid to treat illegals. I wonder how "principled" this wanker would be if he were forced to treat them for free under his "oldest traditions"?
It's hard to imagine a true professional making such a stupid remark
It is clearly a straw man to advance the notion that the need to present documentation is onerous.
Many unchallenged clearly legal native born citizens don't own a passport.
Why not claim that another interpretation is that a certified LONG Form birth certificate is required?
Silly is silly and has no limit.
How about a "green card?"
How about a driver's license?
This so-called "doctor," not long on common sense, certainly doesn't inspire confidence. I would have to worry that his medical judgement is equally lacking.
“In other words...He’ll have to mow his own lawn...”
hey, no one said this is going to be easy!
Stuff it doc! And stay the hell out of the medicine cabinet.
Doc ,Simple do not break the law then you have no worry.
I am sure Dr. Restrepo, from Columbia, has no hidden agenda in his critizum of border enforcement in the US.
Let the good doctor work on those guys for free.
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