THREAD: The Religious Discrimination Act has the potential to undo years of hard-fought progress to address inequalities in our healthcare system. This Bill puts individual beliefs of medical practitioners before patient care.
One of the things we hear a lot is "but no health practitioners would behave this way". People (rightfully) say that health professionals should make their patients feel safe and supported, no matter who they are, where they live, or whom they love. /2
Unfortunately, we've heard many stories of medical professionals using their faith to make patients feel judged, unsafe, and unsupported. Here's a case study from NSW in 2013: /3
A woman was sent to a doctor with a degree in psychiatric medicine in relation to depression and for assistance after being discharged from an alcohol detoxification program. /4
When she saw the psychiatrist she relayed her history: abuse as a child, development of a significant drinking problem at various stages of her life, dependence on cigarettes, and depression /5
After she finished speaking, he replied: ‘Don’t cry, Jesus Christ drank, you don’t need any medication’ and proceeding to place a cross in the palm of her hand and said that the cross was now her medication. He suggested to make time for prayer and for going to church. /6
He told her if she didn’t go to church and show Jesus that she loved him, she would end up in hell with her former (abusive) partner. /7
This psychiatrist no longer practices medicine. Under the Religious Discrimination Act, he may have grounds for an anti-discrimination complaint against his de-registration on the basis of religious belief. /8
When we just need someone we can trust to help without judgement, our doctors should be there for us. Tell your MP that the needs of patients should come before the individual beliefs of health practitioners /9 equalityaustralia.org.au/no-to-discrimi…
A woman born in 1960 was referred to the psychiatrist for treatment after being diagnosed with depression and anxiety. She saw him 9 times between 2012 and 2013. /10
On more than one occasion he said words to the effect of ‘you need to think more about where you are heading and to let Jesus into your life’; and ‘you should join the church’ /11
He recommended that the patient should read a particular book about miracles. When she spoke about her fear of dying he said words to the effect of ‘what do you have to be scared of? You should be looking forward to the kingdom of heaven’. /12
He ‘once you get to heaven you can have a little dress shop on a cloud’ during a discussion about the patient's fear of illness and death. /13
We all want our health workers to treat us with respect. Our laws should not protect individual religious views to the detriment of others. /14
