Doctors’ declare a duty of care ‘to speak on climate risk’
DOCTORS have a responsibility to speak out about the dire health impacts of climate change, an expert says, as bushfires burning across NSW create hazardous air pollution in Sydney.
Air quality was hazardous in northwestern Sydney yesterday morning and between very poor and hazardous in central and eastern Sydney.
Public health physician Dr
Kate Charlesworth says the medical profession has an obligation to discuss the link between climate change and poor health.
“From a health perspective, refusing to talk about these bushfires is like refusing to talk about smoking and lung cancer,” she said.
“There’s a proud history of health professionals standing up on issues of importance – think of asbestos and tobacco control – that is our role.”
Dr Charlesworth said doctors were increasingly seeing the health impacts of climate change on patients and speaking up was “part of our duty of care”.
The Doctors for the Environment Australia members said poor air quality caused by bushfire smoke put vulnerable groups at risk, including people with pre-existing heart and lung disease, as well as the elderly, babies and children.
“The key thing is people need to keep their medication at hand – they need to stay indoors, avoid exercise, and see their doctor if they feel it’s necessary,” Dr Charlesworth said.
Hazardous air quality levels were reported across Sydney at the height of “catastrophic” bushfire conditions experienced last week.
Poor air quality driven by more frequent and more severe bushfires will put an increasing burden on the state’s health services, Dr Charlesworth argues.
“The evidence is overwhelming that we have a climate emergency and we need an appropriate response,” she said.