Protect “Good Medical Practice” in Australia: safeguard the Medical Board Code of Conduct.

It would be dangerous to allow these changes to proceed. FGM is a cultural practice that does irreparable harm to the girl/woman. It is not part of Australian culture so it is unthinkable that a doctor could lose his registration if he refused to perform this operation on the child. Also a boy may think he is a girl while he is young, and want to take the surgical steps. the doctor may consider that this child wants to be a girl for psychological reasons (ie if his mother wanted a girl) and therefore not want to operate, knowing that when the child becomes a teenager he may forever regret losing his ability to get married and raise a family.

I SUPPORT THE RIGHT For Doctors to abide by ENDURING PRINCIPLES in a Hippocratic Oath AND Code of CONDUCT and I Know WE WILL ALL COME TO REALISE and experience the Catastrophic Danger and Heartache from following this path. This is Tyranny and Terrorism by the few who think they have a voice of destruction for Families. I pray GOD will poor down wisdom to mankind. Amen.

The draft revision is a move away from the democratic spirit the most Australians hold dear to, and a move towards the kind of totalitarian regime that still exists in some parts of our world which most of us loathe where only the official and politically correct view is permitted to be expressed, and every other opposing views are either censored or persecuted by imposing penalties. The existing (2009) code of conduct ought to be retained

I don't want the Medical Board of Australia's existing Code of Conduct changed.

Patients need to be aware of all options before making a decision regarding their health .

In any decision we make a non emotional opinion is good to seek. To remove the doctors opinion based on their knowledge is leaving the door open for emotions to govern life threatening choices.

Please consider the professional medical opinion as a vital part in treating patients rather than political correctness.

Doctors must continue to be encouraged to give the whole picture, both positive and negative, concerning medical matters. This is their responsibility - not following the patients' culture or feelings.

I am a medical practitioner who values freedom of speech and the right to act according to my conscience. I am therefore strongly opposed to any change to the Medical Board's current Code of Conduct.

I do not wish the present code to be changed or amended. The new amended wording would further stifle the freedom members of the medical practice still have to tend to the health and well being of their patients according to Judaeo/Christian ethics and morals.

Protect free speech!

These changes are unnecessary and undesirable, putting doctors in an awkward position of not being able to follow their conscience, personal knowledge and ethics.

This amendment takes away, freedom of opinion, A Basic Human Right

To: The Medical Board of Australia Committee Members, I am taking this opportunity to express that doctors should not be forced to accept ‘cultural beliefs and practises’ that are opposed to good medical practise. It is unprofessional and wrong to put in place a code of conduct which requires doctors to be “culturally safe” and comply with a patient’s beliefs about gender identity and sexuality, with no provision given for a doctor to differ in their professional judgement. I am concerned with the possible interpretation of ‘culturally safe’, that it should not impact on good health outcomes and good medical practice. For example, a parent refusing to give medication to a baby or child based on home cultural practice or belief, therefore causing child to end up in ICU or hospital bed waiting for treatment due to refusal of medication or treatment as advised by doctor earlier. Another example, a child or parent acting on behalf of a child asking for a sexual change surgery for a child based on sexual and identity belief, therefore having to deal with possible medical complication later on because the child or parent refused doctor's advice or information about the consequences that come with the surgery by choice. In my opinion, having respect for a patient does not equal respecting ‘cultural beliefs and practices’ that may be antithetical to good medical practice. Thank you for your attention and supporting the doctors performing their role in appropriate medical practice. Yours sincerely, Joyce Tan

I oppose the changes to the Code of Conduct for Australian doctors! Doctors should be free to exercise independent clinical judgement, raise concerns with their patients in open honest discussions and work in a manner that does not violate their own consciences.

We must safeguard the Medical Board Code of Conduct

This proposed amendment erodes one of the key function of democracy - to promote and protect one of the most basic human rights - freedom of opinion and expression, as set out by the Australian Human Rights Commission

do not change the existing Code of Conduct for Australian doctors

It is everyone's right to decided what is best for their health, but this right should not impose or force doctors to act against their professional knowledge and conscience.

I am concerned about doctors being put in a position where they are asked to do something which against their conscience such as abortion. A Doctor should not have to refer a patient on to another Doctor either.