25 April 2002

“Senior Doctors Commend National MP For Criticism Of Mandatory Reporting”

“Senior doctors commend National Party MP Dr Paul Hutchison for his strong criticism of the proposal for mandatory reporting of doctors and other health professionals,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.

“Dr Hutchison correctly recognises that this ‘dob in a doctor’ approach will only succeed in promoting a destructive ‘name and shame culture’ that will undermine safety and quality standards. No-one has produced any evidence that this approach will do anything positive.”

“Dr Hutchison is being honest and calling a ‘spade a spade’. He knows from his own previous experience as a doctor dedicated to quality and safety standards that mandatory reporting will not work.”

“MPs from all political parties including his own should listen to Dr Hutchison’s wise and sensible advice,” concluded Mr Powell.

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