A damning report on two deaths which occurred because of delays to treatment during a medical radiation technologists’ strike raises the question of whether health professionals should be able to take that sort of industrial action.
A report into a complaint against the Otago District Health Board involving a Dunedin Hospital patient whose treatment was delayed because of strikes suggested “the wrong party is in the dock”.
The report is one of two by Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson on two complaints against the board, arising out of medical radiation technologists (MRT) strikes in 2006.
It says although there is potential to breach an agreement with unions over life-preserving services, hospitals cannot allow patient safety to be jeopardised.
The reports draw attention to the risks to patients during health professionals’ strikes when clinicians are not able to carry out their usual practices, and calls for the Minister of Health to consider better protection for patients during strikes.
Strikes by any other workers may disrupt and annoy people, but those by health professionals have the potential to kill them.
Posted by homepaddock 
Homepaddock 