Patients warned not to speak to media in leaked hospital document

A leaked document, developed by a major Queensland hospital, warns patients about the media and asks them to alert hospital staff if they intend to speak with a journalist.

The Gold Coast University Hospital has warned patients against speaking to the media.

The Gold Coast University Hospital has developed a document warning patients against interacting with the media, sparking concerns from the Health Minister.

It is understood the document was created by an internal social work team following frequent requests for assistance and advice made to hospital staff by patients or their families regarding how to respond to journalists.

The leaked document titled “navigating media exposure: a guide for patients and families” is stamped with the Queensland Health logo and asks patients to alert hospital staff if they intend to speak with journalists.

“If you would like to do a media interview, please ask a staff member to contact the Gold Coast Health Media Team who can help facilitate,” the document states.

“Please be aware that if you speak to one media outlet, other outlets may request an interview.”

The document is laid out as a how-to guide on what to expect in the event of a traumatic health-related incident that may attract media attention.

However, it is littered with words of discouragement and warning.

Under the subheading “misrepresentation” the document reads: “Sometimes, the media may not accurately represent the event, or the people involved, leading to additional stress and misunderstandings”.

It also advises patients and families to assess their online privacy settings and seek the help of hospital staff if feeling pressured or overwhelmed by media requests.

​But last night, a Gold Coast Health spokesman said – after a story emerged about the document – that it was not going to be distributed.

“This document was created in response to requests from trauma patients and their families who have been the focus of significant media attention,” he said.

“The document is in development and has not yet been endorsed by relevant committees for distribution at this time and to our knowledge has not yet been distributed to patients or families.

“This guidance has not been produced for patients or relatives involved in adverse incidents (i.e. SAC events) within our hospitals, nor will it be shared with them in the future.”

It comes after the GCUH faced considerable bad press relating to ED deaths over the past few months including one man found dead in a toilet and another who died following a delayed sepsis diagnosis.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls on Tuesday said he was unaware of the document, but would investigate its origins.

“I couldn’t believe that they would be saying that the media might misrepresent facts or figures or anything like that, that’s concerning as it is,” he said.

“We’re about openness and transparency, and we’re comfortable for people to speak to the media, and they’re most welcome to go out and do that.”