A body representing obstetricians says so-called “name and shame” laws against doctors deemed to pose a risk to the public are, in fact, disincentivising health workers from working in regional areas.
The criticism comes as amendments to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law come into effect across Australia.
The law gives 16 medical authorities across different disciplines the power to warn the public (by issuing public statements) about professionals subject to investigation or disciplinary proceedings—even before guilt is established.
“From today, we will be able to warn the public about dangerous individuals and let them know what they need to do if they have been exposed to patient safety risks such as a serious infection control issue,” said Martin Fletcher, the CEO of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), in a statement….