Ariz. may require hospitals to check citizenship

[deminks]

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9LD8QPG0.htm

PHOENIX

Republican lawmakers want to widen Arizona's illegal immigration crackdown with a proposal to require hospitals to check on whether patients are in the country legally, causing outrage among medical professionals who fear becoming de facto immigration agents under the law.

The medical industry ripped the bill Monday as it was scheduled for a hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Doctors envisioned scenarios in which immigrants with contagious diseases such as tuberculosis would stay home from the clinic or hospital and put themselves and the public at a grave health risk.

"This is making us into a police state that will try to catch people when they are sick," said George Pauk, a retired doctor with an organization called Physicians for a National Health Program. "Do we want to stop sick people from coming in for health care?"

(snip)

Senate President Russell Pearce, a Mesa Republican who was chief sponsor of last year's immigration law, says the hospitals bill is part of a broader effort to crack down on illegal immigration. The hospitals bill wouldn't bar people from getting care, but it would put the onus on hospitals to "do due diligence," Pearce said. "We're going to enforce our laws without apology."

Added Pearce: "It's the law. It's a felony to (aid and) abet. We're going to enforce the law without apology."

(end snip)

I knew it wouldn't be long before this happened. The thugs cannot contain their hate. If this is allowed to pass, it will bite the public in the ass in the long run.

[Justitia]

1. Gee, what could possibly go wrong?

:sarcasm:

[RavensChick]

2. Sad.

All the more reason why Arizona has been added to my list of states I will never, EVER visit!

[muntrv]

3. russell pearce: "Check all colored people who come into the hospital."

[Kennah]

6. They'll just send 'em to the Colored Hospital, and admit the whites at the Whites Only Hospital

[HuckleB]

4. Even if your papers are good, you could still get caught with some karma in your pocket.

Be careful. Be very careful.

[tanyev]

5. But Mexican drug cartels are still welcome to purchase lots of guns in Arizona?

[kickysnana]

7. How are they going to do that? n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. Oh. So this is how the Zombie Wars begin.