HEALTH Minister Jack Snelling says he’ll consider legislation to discipline doctors involved in childish and dangerous infighting at Adelaide’s largest hospital.
A REPORT on the integration of cardiothoracic and general intensive care at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) warned that bullying and infighting between doctors is putting patients at risk.
The government-commissioned report said nurses were targeted in anonymous bullying notes, while a senior clinician was actively undermined by his peers. It warns, however, that efforts to bring staff into line could be delayed for industrial reasons. Mr Snelling says he’ll bring urgent legislation into the parliament to deal with unprofessional doctors unless swift action is taken. “When patient safety is being compromised, we have to act immediately,” he told ABC radio. “(These are) extremely highly-trained, well-qualified individuals who have the lives of people in their hands. The fact that this is going on among such senior people is just staggering.” SA Salaried Medical Officers Association spokesman David Pope said legislation was unnecessary because doctors were bound by policies set out by the Health Department. “There’s nothing in (the existing) agreement that would prevent bad behaviour being held to account,” he said.