Doctors urged to ‘refuse to work’ if they don’t have proper PPE
Although it sounds extreme, work refusal is necessary when employers fail to address risks to doctors' safety, says AMA Victoria
Doctors should refuse to work if their workplace fails to deal with personal protective equipment (PPE) supply issues or staff shortages, says the AMA Victoria.
In an alert issued this week, Grant Forsyth, the director of Workplace Relations said doctors had a right to refuse to work “where you believe there is an immediate risk to your safety”.
“While this is an extreme action to take, it may be necessary when you believe your employer is not appropriately addressing risk,” he said.
Mr Forsyth said the AMA was hopeful legislation would be changed so all healthcare workers who contracted COVID-19 would be presumed to have to contracted it at work.
