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Governor signs bill prohibiting Arizona's EMTs from persuading patients into not going to hospital

House Bill 2431 prohibits Arizona's EMTs from diagnosing patients out in the field and persuading them into not going to a hospital.

PHOENIX — Editor's Note: The above video is from an earlier broadcast.

Gov. Doug Ducey has signed legislation that prohibits emergency medical technicians from diagnosing patients or discouraging them from seeking transport to a hospital. 

House Bill 2431 sets new parameters for what Arizona's EMTs can or cannot recommend to patients they're treating out in the field. 

The new law prohibits EMTs from giving a presumptive medical diagnosis and using that diagnosis as justification to not transport the patient to a hospital. 

State Rep. Amish Shah, a medical doctor representing District 24, introduced the legislation after coming across research suggesting Phoenix had a high rate of "non-transports" compared to other jurisdictions.

“We have reviewed a lot of different cases that have come through, not only Phoenix. What we’ve seen in these cases is a pattern of counseling people out. And that doesn’t fit in best practice,” Shah told 12 News earlier this year.

RELATED: Arizona lawmaker introduces bill to prevent EMTs from diagnosing patients

The law further clarifies that EMTs can still inform a patient about their right to accept or decline transportation to a hospital.

Phoenix fire previously told 12 News that its paramedics and EMTs were already following the state's protocols. 

HB 2431 passed through the Arizona House of Representatives in a final vote of 34-17 before it was signed by the governor this week. Eight state representatives declined to make a final vote on the bill.

EN ESPAÑOL: El gobernador firma ley prohibiendo a paramédicos de Arizona de convencer a pacientes a que no sean trasladados al hospital

RELATED: Arizona judge declines GOP request to block mail voting

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