Arizona bill disallows doctors to treat those deemed undocumented.

UPDATE: This bill was pulled.

A new piece of legislation has been introduced in Arizona that would force hospitals to check the immigration status of patients. Basically, Arizona conservatives dont just hate its undocumented population, but wants to make the jobs of cops and medical professionals absolutely miserable as well.

via TPM.

SB 1405 states: “Before a hospital admits a person for nonemergency care, a hospital admissions officer must confirm that the person is a citizen of the United States, a legal resident of the United States or lawfully present in the United States.” If the hospital determines that a patient is not in the country legally, it must notify federal immigration officials. If someone determined to be an non-legal resident comes in for emergency care, the hospital must contact federal officials after “successful treatment of the patient.”

So going to the doctor when you are sick can get you reported to the feds. And in a situation where you absolutely have to go to the hospital, after you have been stabilized, you could also be reported to the feds. Hospitals have to treat people irrelevant of who they are. This measure is unethical and infringes on the ability for medical practitioners to do their jobs. And it is important to note that it is hospitals, doctors, nurses, social workers and other medical practitioners that will be penalized for providing services. Thank you Arizona conservatives for showing us the many depths of hatred in our very-much-not-so post-racial America.