❓ WA Parliamentary Question regarding medical practitioners with criminal convictions, particularly sexual assault, and reporting obligations to patients. The response indicates difficulty in providing specific numbers but acknowledges instances of terminated employment due to such convictions.
AnsweredQoN 476Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to obligations upon medical practitioners to disclose criminal convictions, and I ask: (a) how many registered doctors in Western Australia have criminal convictions and of those recorded, how many were for sexual assault; (b) how many of the recorded criminal convictions occurred in Western Australoia; (c) is there any obligation to report those criminal convictions to patients; and (d) if no to (c), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 February 2022
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Health
Response time
2 days
(a) – (b) Provision of information sought by the Member would require a significant amount of work to inspect individual personnel files. This would be a significant undertaking and divert Health Service Provider resources at this time.
Since 1997 all employed medical practitioners undergo criminal records screening. No medical practitioners employed by WA Health since 1997 were found to have recorded criminal convictions that prevented them commencing employment.
Department of Health, as the System Manager, is aware of three formerly employed medical practitioners with convictions for sexual assault related crimes that occurred whilst employed. In all three instances the individuals’ employment was terminated.
(c) – (d) There is no legislative requirement or obligation for registered medical practitioners to report criminal convictions to patients.
Since 1997 all employed medical practitioners undergo criminal records screening. No medical practitioners employed by WA Health since 1997 were found to have recorded criminal convictions that prevented them commencing employment.
Department of Health, as the System Manager, is aware of three formerly employed medical practitioners with convictions for sexual assault related crimes that occurred whilst employed. In all three instances the individuals’ employment was terminated.
(c) – (d) There is no legislative requirement or obligation for registered medical practitioners to report criminal convictions to patients.
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