Minister slates reluctant doctors

Press, 27 November 1979, Page 8

Minister slates reluctant doctors

NZPA Sydney A New South Wales Cabinet Minister said yesterday that doctors who refused to attend patients should be charged with wilful murder if death resulted from their actions. The Youth and Community Services’ minister (Mr Rex Jackson) made the call in State Parliament yesterday after the death of his brother from a heart attack on Sunday. Mr Jackson said legislation should be introduced in Federal and state Parliaments to discipline any doctor who refused to attend someone who w T as seriously ill.

He said the attitude of many doctors at present showed that the ethics of the medical profession had completely disappeared. “Ninety per cent of doctors today are only concerned about ways they can exploit the community and the money they earn,” he said. “Yesterday morning my brother collapsed with a heart attack, and my sister-in-law tried several doctors to attend him and they refused, saying that it was Sunday morning and said she had better call an ambulance. “Before the ambulance came my brother passed away.

“This is typical of the medical fraternity today, and the quicker we bring legislation into this Parliament and the Federal Parliament tc charge these people with wilful murder, the quicker this country is going to appreciate Governments and the responsibility of Governments.” Mr Jackson made his statement in reply to a question from the Labour member for the Newcastle seat ol Charlestown, Mr Richarc Face. Mr Face asked the Ministei whether it was a fact that many doctors refused to attend state wards in Govern-

ment institutions, and whether the Government could [take any action. Mr Jackson replied that many doctors had refused to attend state wards as well ( as members of the public who needed attention in their own homes. He said that some doctors had also declined to give treatment until they had been paid in advance. “I think it’s a disgrace.” Mr Jackson said. “I think it’s one of the [greatest blights on our society, and the quicker (something is done about it, (the better for the whole of lour community.”