Medical board pledges changes for cases involving Indigenous patients
It follows accusations of racism against the regulator earlier this year.
Two or more Indigenous experts will be involved in all Medical Board of Australia notifications concerning Indigenous patients, AHPRA has announced.
The experts will be in addition to the current mix of doctors and community members on medical board panels and “include the decisions about whether to refer a practitioner to an independent tribunal”, AHPRA said on Friday.
“The Indigenous experts will make decisions with other Board representatives about any notification involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” it added.
The changes, which will also apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, were part of a “commitment to eliminating racism from healthcare”, AHPRA said.
