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OPINION — Let me first say that I strongly support Dr. Amish Shah, who is running for Congress in Arizona’s 1st District. Like Dr. Shah, I am an emergency physician. I recently read the opinion piece by Stephen Gillman of the International Association of Fire Fighters criticizing Dr. Shah’s record.

In 2022, while serving in the Arizona State Legislature, Dr. Shah introduced legislation designed to protect patients from being inappropriately discouraged from hospital transport by paramedics making presumptive field diagnoses. At the time, there had been several high-profile cases in which patients died or suffered serious medical complications shortly after being evaluated by paramedics but not transported to a hospital. ABC15 reported on two such cases and aired testimony from patients and families describing these failures before state authorities. 

Dr. Shah’s bill was straightforward and patient-centered. Its purpose was to reduce the risk of seriously ill patients being left at the scene when they should have been transported for further medical evaluation. The legislation sought to prevent situations in which patients might be improperly reassured that hospital care was unnecessary.

Firefighter unions and related trade organizations opposed the bill, largely because they viewed it as conflicting with their operational interests. Every other interested stakeholder group, from the ACLU to the Goldwater Institute, supported the bill. Fortunately, the Arizona Legislature recognized the importance of prioritizing patient safety, and the bill passed.

It is therefore not surprising that Mr. Gillman’s firefighters’ union opposes Dr. Shah in the 2026 congressional race. On the other hand, Dr. Shah has earned the strong support of a cadre of organizations, including that of his peers – both the Arizona College of Emergency Physicians and the American College of Emergency Physicians, which represents more than 45,000 front-line emergency physicians.  

Dr. Shah has demonstrated the courage to do what is right for patients.

Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.