Union bans burial of doctors’ bodies

Press, 14 August 1984, Page 18

Union bans burial of doctors’ bodies

NZPA-AAP Canberra A trade union has banned the burial or cremation of doctors’ bodies in the Australian Capital Territory after claims that some surgeons are denying services to Medicare patients. The Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen’s Association said it had banned the burial or cremation of Australian Medical Association members “who through their demise may require such service.” The move came after a decision by the A.C.T.’s eight orthopaedic surgeons not to issue medical certificates or medico-legal reports to members of unions affiliated to the A.C.T. Trades and Labour Council. Such action will prevent sick or injured workers from proceeding with compensation claims. The surgeons have also banned elective surgery to Federal Labour politicians. The Australian Medical

Association’s A.C.T. Council has called a general meeting on the dispute. A F.E.D.F.A. organiser, Mr Bob Elkin, said unions were fully justified in “giving the medical profession some of their own medicine” if A.M.A. members withdrew services to union members. A spokesman for the Norwood Park Crematorium said two F.E.D.F.A. members were employed to conduct cremations and do general duties. The union would be able to enforce the ban if it wanted to. At the centre of the disSute are extensions to the ohn James Private Hospital in Canberra. In June, unions banned the extensions because they claimed orthopaedic surgeons had withdrawn all but one of six “fracture” clinics from A.C.T. public hospitals. The unions claim the doctors plan to relocate the clinics in private hospitals

such as John James, thus denying Medicare patients free treatment or forcing . them into private insurance. An application by the Master Builders’ Association and Confederation of Australian Industry to have the bans lifted was rejected by Commissioner Griffin in the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission. A co-secretary of the Australian Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dr David McNicol, said the delay in completing the extensions was denying much needed hospital beds to A.C.T. people. The eight surgeons involved were assuming that all patients belonged to trade unions. In cases where they were unsure they would withhold certificates and reports. Dr McNicol said the surgeons would meet again to consider further action, and would seek to widen the dispute.