Healthcare unions back human rights bill for patients and workers

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 19:38 · Archive

Healthcare unions have told a NSW parliamentary inquiry that a human rights bill would benefit both patients and healthcare workers.

Healthcare unions have told a NSW parliamentary inquiry that enshrining the right to health in human rights legislation would benefit both patients and healthcare workers. The proposed bill would establish a right to access physical and mental health services without discrimination, along with emergency medical treatment.

Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation secretary Behnoosh Samadi told the inquiry the change could force public authorities to consider those rights when making decisions like suspending services in response to unsafe staffing. Dr Samadi cited the psychiatry workforce crisis as an example of why a properly resourced health system is essential to realising the right to health.

Alysha McCarthy of the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association said patients have already benefited from human rights legislation elsewhere. She described a case under Victoria's human rights charter in which an Aboriginal woman with mental illness was able to access community treatment rather than remain in hospital. Ms McCarthy said the decision maker had to consider cultural rights, equality and dignity, resulting in 'more culturally appropriate and less restrictive health care'. For nurses and midwives across NSW, she said the biggest impact would be prevention of potential harms to healthcare workers.

How it is being reported

• Patients, workers could benefit from human rights billUnions representing healthcare workers have appeared before a parliamentary inquiry to argue a human rights bill would benefit practitioners and patients.Perth Now · 5 Nov, 19:01
• Patients, workers could benefit from human rights billUnions representing healthcare workers have appeared before a parliamentary inquiry to argue a human rights bill would benefit practitioners and patients.The West Australian · 5 Nov, 19:01

In this story: NSW · Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation · Behnoosh Samadi · NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association · Alysha McCarthy · Victoria

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log