Anti-vaxxers told to opt out of public health system if they catch Covid-19
One of the most powerful members of the Australian Medical Association has issued a shocking warning to Covid deniers and anti-vaxxers.
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The Victorian President of the AMA has been slammed for saying Covid-deniers and anti-vaxxers should opt out of receiving medical care in the public health system if they catch the virus as the country reopens.
It comes after an unvaccinated Uber driver in his 30s who is “very ill” in hospital plunged southeast Queensland into a new Covid-19 crisis.
AMA Victorian branch President Roderick McRae said those who did not believe Covid-19 existed or was a serious threat should inform their love ones that they do not wish to receive care in the public health system if they become infected with the virus.
“A whole lot of these people are passionate disbelievers that the virus even exists,” Dr McRae told Guardian Australia.
“They should notify their nearest and dearest and ensure there’s an advanced care directive that says, ‘If I am diagnosed with this disease caused by a virus that I don’t believe exists, I will not disturb the public hospital system, and I’ll let nature run its course’.”
But AMA national President Omar Khorshid hit back hard against Dr McRae’s comments, insisting the Medical Association’s code of ethics contradicted the Victorian branch President’s statements.
“The AMA Code of Ethics guides the behaviour of doctors and is the foundation of AMA policy,” Dr Khorshid wrote on Twitter.
“Doctors will always provide care to patients considering their right to make their own decisions, even bad ones like not getting #vacced.”
Section 2.1.5 of the AMA Code of Ethics states doctors must: “Respect the patient’s right to make their own health care decisions. This includes the right to accept, or reject, advice regarding treatments and procedures including life-sustaining treatments.”
The AMA Code of Ethics guides the behaviour of doctors and is the foundation of AMA policy. Doctors will always provide care to patients considering their right to make their own decisions, even bad ones like not getting #vacced.
— AMA President (@amapresident) October 21, 2021
But Dr McRae said health care workers were exhausted from ongoing Covid-19 outbreaks, and the overburdened and understaffed Australian healthcare system that predated the pandemic.
“Within the public hospitals, the knees are knocking as restrictions ease,” he said.
“The situation is stressed to the point that tents are going up outside of the public hospitals to facilitate the removal of ill patients from ambulances, so those ambulances can go and get the next patient.”
The AMA branch President said it was unfair for Covid-deniers to take up time and resources receiving medical treatment from the country’s health profession while simultaneously refusing to listen to their advice on the vaccine.
“We’re all juggling everything the best we can to avoid and prevent deaths. We know as we reopen it’s the unvaccinated who are going to get Covid,” he said.
“And they are going to get great hospital treatment with many new experimental drugs, even though they think the vaccine is ‘experimental’.”
Victoria’s lockdown lifted on Friday as the state exceeded the 70 per cent full vaccination target.
Although the state is still reporting daily case numbers upwards of 2,000, high vaccination rates and lower than predicted length of hospital stays means the Victorian government is confident that the health system should cope with restrictions lifting earlier than originally planned.
But Dr McRae maintained that individuals had a responsibility not to overwhelm Victoria’s hospitals as restrictions eased.
“We strongly advise people not to undertake any activity that may lead to inebriation and the requirements for medical care,” he said.
“Now is not the time you want to fall over or get injured, because the hospitals are full. Don’t get too excited about the horse winning the Melbourne Cup if you’re on the brink of having a cardiac issue.
“If you call an ambulance in coming weeks, you may have to wait. There’s no question the hospital will do what they can, but we’re not able to provide the standard of care that we once did because of all of the resource constraints.”
The Victorian President of the AMA has been slammed for saying Covid-deniers and anti-vaxxers should opt out of receiving medical care in the public health system if they catch the virus as the country reopens.
AMA Victorian branch President Roderick McRae said those who did not believe Covid-19 existed or was a serious threat should inform their love ones that they do not wish to receive care in the public health system if they become infected with the virus.
“A whole lot of these people are passionate disbelievers that the virus even exists,” Dr McRae told Guardian Australia.
“They should notify their nearest and dearest and ensure there’s an advanced care directive that says, ‘If I am diagnosed with this disease caused by a virus that I don’t believe exists, I will not disturb the public hospital system, and I’ll let nature run its course’.”
But AMA national President Omar Khorshid hit back hard against Dr McRae’s comments, insisting the Medical Association’s code of ethics contradicted the Victorian branch President’s statements.
“The AMA Code of Ethics guides the behaviour of doctors and is the foundation of AMA policy,” Dr Khorshid wrote on Twitter.
“Doctors will always provide care to patients considering their right to make their own decisions, even bad ones like not getting #vacced.”
Section 2.1.5 of the AMA Code of Ethics states doctors must: “Respect the patient’s right to make their own health care decisions. This includes the right to accept, or reject, advice regarding treatments and procedures including life-sustaining treatments.”
The AMA Code of Ethics guides the behaviour of doctors and is the foundation of AMA policy. Doctors will always provide care to patients considering their right to make their own decisions, even bad ones like not getting #vacced.
— AMA President (@amapresident) October 21, 2021
But Dr McRae said health care workers were exhausted from ongoing Covid-19 outbreaks, and the overburdened and understaffed Australian healthcare system that predated the pandemic.
“Within the public hospitals, the knees are knocking as restrictions ease,” he said.
“The situation is stressed to the point that tents are going up outside of the public hospitals to facilitate the removal of ill patients from ambulances, so those ambulances can go and get the next patient.”
The AMA branch President said it was unfair for Covid-deniers to take up time and resources receiving medical treatment from the country’s health profession while simultaneously refusing to listen to their advice on the vaccine.
“We’re all juggling everything the best we can to avoid and prevent deaths. We know as we reopen it’s the unvaccinated who are going to get Covid,” he said.
“And they are going to get great hospital treatment with many new experimental drugs, even though they think the vaccine is ‘experimental’.”
Victoria’s lockdown lifted on Friday as the state exceeded the 70 per cent full vaccination target.
Although the state is still reporting daily case numbers upwards of 2,000, high vaccination rates and lower than predicted length of hospital stays means the Victorian government is confident that the health system should cope with restrictions lifting earlier than originally planned.
But Dr McRae maintained that individuals had a responsibility not to overwhelm Victoria’s hospitals as restrictions eased.
“We strongly advise people not to undertake any activity that may lead to inebriation and the requirements for medical care,” he said.
“Now is not the time you want to fall over or get injured, because the hospitals are full. Don’t get too excited about the horse winning the Melbourne Cup if you’re on the brink of having a cardiac issue.
“If you call an ambulance in coming weeks, you may have to wait. There’s no question the hospital will do what they can, but we’re not able to provide the standard of care that we once did because of all of the resource constraints.”
Originally published as Anti-vaxxers told to opt out of public health system if they catch Covid-19
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