According to Dr. Lucas Restrep, the new Arizona state immigration bill signed into law on April 23, 2010 will seriously obstruct, if not undermine, the practice of medicine in the state of Arizona. Arizona practitioners, hospitals, and medical associations need to ponder the extent of their liability under the new law and draft clear institutional policies to defend their patients and employees from potential harassment. As Dr. Resterp states 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.

Source: New England Journal of Medicine