New regulations will force medical practitioners to dob in colleagues they treat
A powerful doctors group has spoken out against new mandatory reporting regulations that would force practitioners to dob in colleagues they treat for health issues, addictions and other impairments that would put patients at risk.
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Australian practitioners are bracing for new laws requiring them to report colleagues they treat for health issues, addictions and other impairments which may place the public at risk.
Mandatory notification regulations come into force in mid-2020 will require Australia’s 744,000 registered doctors, nurses, dentists, psychologists and other practitioners to notify authorities if substantial risks arise during private medical consultations with another practitioner.
While the move to better protect patients is being welcomed by the nation’s health ministers, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency has moved to try and minimise alarm among medics.
And a powerful doctors group has spoken out against the new mandatory reporting regulations.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Dr Harry Nespolon raised concerns, saying it would cause practitioners to avoid treatment.
“Four in 10 GPs report that they have personally delayed seeking treatment or care in the past two years,” Dr Nespolopn said.
“There are several reasons for this but part of it can be attributed to fear of mandatory reporting of health problems and this needs to change.
“Just like Western Australia where there are no mandatory reporting laws, medical practitioners should be treated just like any other Australian when it comes to their health.”
Concerned the move will deter practitioners from seeking treatment for health issues due to fears they will be reported, AHPRA on Wednesday begin flooding practitioners with information to explain when notifications do and do not need to be made.
AHPRA chief executive officer Martin Fletcher said there were very specific circumstances when a mandatory report was required, such as when a health impairment, intoxication at work or practice not in line with standards places the public at substantial risk of harm.
However, he said practitioners with health issues such as standard treatment for mental health issues did not require a notification.
“After listening to practitioners, we understand their fears about mandatory notifications and the changes to the legislation,” Mr Fletcher said.
“When a practitioner has a health issue, people want to know what is, and what is not, a trigger for a mandatory notification.
“We want to work together, to address any confusion and create the culture and leadership needed to support practitioners and make mandatory notifications easier to understand.”
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Of almost 16,000 notifications lodged with the health regulator last year, less than 3 per cent related to concerns a practitioner had an impairment that impacted their work.
But Medical Board of Australia chair Dr Anne Tonkin said she was aware practitioners were worried about seeking care for a health issue over concerns they would be reported.
“I would hate any doctor to hesitate to seek help because of this worry. We only need to know about a practitioner’s health issue when there is a substantial risk to the public and this is very rare,” Dr Tonkin said.