Mandatory reporting adds to the “discomfort and stress” that young doctors experience, says Brad Hazzard
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has indicated he will back calls for an end to mandatory-reporting rules that deter stressed-out doctors from seeking help.
In an opening address at a forum in Sydney yesterday, which he convened in response to a series of suicides by NSW medical trainees, Mr Hazzard revealed his concern about mandatory reporting adding to the “discomfort and stress” that young doctors experienced in the training system.
“Today is about making sure that we, with all our collective wisdom, try and make a difference,” he said.
Mr Hazzard, who has been in the portfolio for just four months, referred to the death in January of Dr Chloe Abbott, a fourth-year trainee and active member of the AMA’s Council of Doctors in Training.
Dr Abbott’s story was one he had heard several times before, of a young doctor under enormous stress, he said.
He said he was particularly concerned about pressures on junior doctors in training with specialty colleges, who were under additional strain not only from working but also studying for annual exams.
“And some of them have actually conveyed to me that they’ve had issues and incidents that occurred that they didn’t feel confident about speaking up about,” he said.
That lack of confidence stemmed from concern about an impact on their advancement, but also the fact that they might be suffering from mental-health issues.
“They perceive, if they report that to another medical practitioner (under) the current state regulatory framework, they believe they have to have that reported and that can also impact on careers.”
In all states except Western Australia, treating doctors are obliged to notify AHPRA of doctors with mental-health problems or other possible “impairments”, such as drug use, under the national law.
Mr Hazzard said the need for reform “goes beyond politics”, adding that his Labor counterpart in Victoria, Jill Hennessey, and colleagues in other states, were viewing Tuesday’s forum with interest.
“We have an opportunity today to really set a new agenda,” he said.
“We will do whatever we can to make this a really significant redirection … for our medical practitioners, no matter what their age.”
During the forum, Mr Hazzard reiterated his intention to look at the issues with mandatory reporting, drawing applause from an audience of more than 200 delegates.
“Most of us, at some times in our lives, would have felt very frail,” he said.
Junior doctors spoke of feeling exploited by overburdened hospital systems where they had to work 16-hour shifts, work while unwell because there was no back-up, and were not paid proper overtime.
“I’m surprised anyone makes it out alive,” one junior doctor said.
The AMA has long argued against mandatory reporting.
Health ministers will decide on possible amendments to the national law early next year, after consultations with stakeholders to be held later this year.
