One week to go to have your say on the use of chaperones

27 Sep 2016

The Medical Board of Australia (the Board) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) are reminding the public there is one week left for them to have their say on the use of chaperones to protect patients.

Submissions for the review are open until close of business Monday 3 October 2016.

Making a submission is easy. All you have to do is go to the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman Privacy Commissioner website.

Announced in August 2016, the independent review has been commissioned by the Board and AHPRA and is being undertaken by Professor Ron Paterson, Professor of Law at the University of Auckland and Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Melbourne Law School.

The review will consider the appropriateness of using chaperones as an interim measure to protect patients when a doctor is facing allegations of sexual misconduct.

‘I am keen to hear from patients, community groups, especially from people who may have had experience of having a chaperone in the room when they went for a consultation, but I am also interested to hear from doctors and other health practitioners who may have faced allegations or may have worked in a situation where a chaperone condition has been imposed,’ Professor Paterson said.

For more information

Go to the AHPRA website for details on the review, including the terms of reference and how a guide on how to make a submission.

Where to go for help

Discussions of sexual abuse can be distressing to survivors and their families. Support is available:

• Lifeline: 131114
• National sexual assault helpline 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
• Beyondblue: 1300 224 636

Download a PDF of this Media release - One week to go to have your say on the use of chaperones - 27 September 2016 (37.4 KB,PDF)