Regulators are right - family violence is unacceptable
Doctors are in a key position to detect the signs of family and domestic violence and must be empowered to support patients.
AMA Queensland welcomes the unprecedented statement from the nation’s health practitioner regulators condemning family and domestic violence and acknowledging the essential role doctors and other healthcare workers play in tackling this scourge.
“Family violence is unacceptable in all forms,” AMA Queensland President Dr Nick Yim said.
“GPs can be the first to identify the signs of an abusive or coercive relationship.
“The family doctor’s relationship of trust with their patients lets them support victim-survivors, encourage them to seek help from specialised services, and refer them to mental health support.
“This is a major social issue and we acknowledge the important work of the former state government in criminalising coercive control behaviours and sexual offences like stealthing.
“We support the regulators’ commitment to ensuring that health practitioners who perpetrate family violence face serious consequences, including having their registration cancelled or suspended.
“AMA Queensland’s charitable arm, AMA Queensland Foundation, is partnering with family and domestic violence support services this year.
“Through the ongoing support of generous donors, a Charity Gala in August and its Christmas Appeal, the Foundation has raised $140,000 so far.
“We must tackle this scourge on our society and change behaviours.”
You can read more about the Foundation’s work here.
