I had a friend who is a teacher in a Phoenix area elementary school ask me a question that I could not answer regarding medical care for some one in the US illegally. My friend has a student who is 8 years old. Her student and her parents are here in the US illegally. My friend got very emotional as she described having to watch her student suffer from a kidney disease and her parents were too afraid to seek any medical help because they were too afraid to be turned in. I almost broke down in tears hearing this terrible story. I'm not sure what the laws are as it relates to seeking medical attention and a health care provider's obligation of confidentiality as it relates to a patient's citizen status. Could you make any recommendations as to where I could recommend my friend look into getting her student some low cost medical help without jeopardizing their ability to stay in the U.S.?
Thanks,
Kelley