Doctors a target of virus racism

STAFF and patients of “Asian appearance” at Victorian hospitals have been racially abused in an extraordinary example of coronavirus panic, including a doctor told to stay away from a child.

Director of emergency at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Stuart Lewena, said a doctor was told by parents of a child she was treating that they weren’t comfortable with her treating their child due to the risk of coronavirus.

“It was clear that message was sent on the basis of her race. We intervened to highlight to that family that wasn’t acceptable and we’ve been supporting that staff member,” Dr Lewena said yesterday.

The doctor continued to treat the patient, but the situation required the intervention of a senior staff member, Dr Lewena said.

“The message was given that we have complete confidence in that staff member and she should remain as one of the treating clinicians for that child,” Dr Lewena said, adding that the doctor took a brief period of time off but is now back at work.

After the incident had been flagged to all staff, Dr Lewena said three more staff members came forward to say they had had similar experiences.

“We want to use this as an opportunity to say that’s not acceptable in healthcare and it’s certainly not acceptable in our society,” Dr Lewena said. “Paranoia around coronavirus is acceptable, but we need to be sensible and respectful in terms of how we go about dealing with it.”

The Government says while the outbreak in mainland China is of concern, the risk of exposure to coronavirus in Victoria currently remains very low, and certainly has nothing to do with a nurse, doctor or patient’s ethnicity.

“We are aware of at least one other hospital where pa

WE NEED TO BE SENSIBLE AND RESPECTFUL IN TERMS OF HOW WE GO ABOUT DEALING WITH IT (CORONAVIRUS PARANOIA)

tients presenting have refused to sit near other patients that they have seen of Asian appearance,” Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said.

“That is very concerning. There is no place for this behaviour in our public hospitals, there is no place for this in our broader community.”

Victorian chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton said virus preparations were ongoing.

“We’re going to work extremely hard on our planning … we are continually adapting to new information and circumstances as they arise.”

There have been seven confirmed coronavirus cases in Victoria.