Fed: Psychiatrists warned working in detention centres unethical

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2001
Fed: Psychiatrists warned working in detention centres unethical

By Elizabeth Gosch

CANBERRA, Dec 9 AAP - Psychiatrists were today warned that working in immigration detention
centres could be unethical.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) has advised
its members to think carefully before accepting detention centre jobs in an attempt to
force an immediate review of the treatment of asylum seekers.

While the college could not direct its members not to take jobs, New South Wales branch
chair Louise Newman said the college was advising all medical practitioners to consider
the situation before taking a job in one of the Australian Correctional Management (ACM)
run centres.

"What we are saying is that all medical practitioners should think carefully about
the ethical issues involved before they accept any positions in the detention centres,
given the way they are currently run and the concerns we have about them," Dr Newman told
AAP.

The college was especially concerned about the wellbeing of children in detention centres
such as Sydney's Villawood centre.

"There have been some very serious issues that have come to light about the provision
or lack of provision of medical services and mental health services, specifically for
children and the difficulties of having these children properly assessed, let alone treated,"

Dr Newman said.

"So we are raising this matter in view of the current inquiry looking at children and
some of our members have also been visiting children in the camps and are very concerned
about the conditions there."

An article published today in the December issue of the Medical Journal of Australia
revealed the intimidating and harsh environment of Australia's immigration detention centres
threatened the fragile mental health of asylum seekers.

The authors warned prolonged confinement in immigration detention centres could have
severe psychologically disabling effects on asylum seekers.

Dr Newman said the publishing of the article was timely.

"I think it reveals the extent of the problem," she said.

"It makes the points very clearly that the level of health services in general is grossly
deficient.

"So our concern is that for any medical practitioner working within that system may
be compromised in terms of the care that they are able to give people.

"So it would be much better if there was an immediate review of the entire situation
and that these people had access to the same levels of services as anyone else in the
community."

AAP eg/jmd/sb

KEYWORD: ASYLUM PSYCHIATRISTS

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