Reckless disregard for voluntary informed consent – the AHPRA Position Statement 9 March 2021
For the attention of:
– Martin Fletcher, CEO, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) – Anne Tonkin, Chair, Medical Board of Australia
(Please see the list of current Members at the bottom of this email.)
Copied to: Matthew Hardy, AHPRA National Director Notifications (Re Notification Ref. No. 00531213 re Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly)
Dear Martin Fletcher, Anne Tonkin and Members of the 15 National Boards
The AHPRA Position Statement 9 March 2021 is effectively a mandate for health practitioners to comply with the then Morrison Government’s plan for a compulsory Covid-19 vaccination policy, for Covid vaccination to be “as mandatory as you can possibly make it”, as announced by Scott Morrison in August 2020.
On what authority do AHPRA and the Members of the 15 National Boards dictate to health practitioners on Covid-19 vaccination policy, impacting on health decisions for millions of people, including children?
Have Members of the National Boards breached codes of conduct by demanding health practitioners support the Morrison Government’s Covid-19 vaccination policy, a mass population vaccination rollout which has violated the legal and ethical obligation for voluntary informed consent for vaccination?
It’s important to have transparency and accountability for the people responsible for the AHPRA Position Statement, because it appears whoever initiated, authored, and approved this document has little or no knowledge of the obligation for voluntary informed consent for vaccination, despite the fact AHPRA acknowledges this requirement in personal correspondence to me dated 20 September 2021, i.e.
“Practitioners have an obligation to obtain informed consent for treatment, including vaccination. Informed consent is a person’s voluntary decision about health care that is made with knowledge and understanding of the benefits and risks involved.”
In November 2022, the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care also confirmed to me:
“Informed consent should be obtained for every COVID-19 vaccination, as per usual consent
procedures for other vaccinations.”
The AHPRA Position Statement hyperlinks to the Home page of The Australian Immunisation Handbook – why didn’t it directly link to the section on Valid consent and explicitly quote the requirement for voluntary informed consent for vaccination?
“For consent to be legally valid, the following elements must be present…It must be given voluntarily in the absence of undue pressure, coercion or manipulation…It can only be given after the potential risks and benefits of the relevant vaccine, the risks of not having it, and any alternative options have been explained to the person.” (My emphasis.)
The AHPRA Position Statement approved by Members of the 15 National Boards ‘strongly encourages’ health practitioners to be Covid-19 vaccinated themselves, and states: “Many registered health practitioners will have a vital role in COVID-19 vaccination programs and in educating the public about the importance and safety of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure high participation rates.” (My emphasis.)
Are registered health practitioners, e.g. general practitioners, nurses and pharmacists, qualified to provide specialist information on Covid-19 and Covid-19 vaccination across the population? Are they qualified to ensure people give
Please forward this email to all Members of the 15 National Boards who approved the AHPRA Position
Statement 9 March 2021
their voluntary informed consent for this medical intervention, or to refuse it if they so choose?
How have health practitioners handled the situation with people presenting before them under duress, e.g. under vaccination mandates set by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), led by Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly, and state and territory government mandates, and mandates set by employers and others?
How can health practitioners obtain valid consent from people being pressured, coerced and manipulated to submit to Covid-19 vaccination under vaccination mandates?
With the widespread acceptance of vaccination mandates across the medical profession, including for themselves, it appears most health practitioners do not understand that vaccination is a medical intervention for which voluntary informed consent must be obtained. This is a shocking revelation with serious ramifications for the community, with personal autonomy and bodily integrity damaged by vaccination mandates.
Have health practitioners been free to question the AHPRA Position Statement? It appears not, as the AHPRA Position Statement approved by Members of the 15 National Boards carries an implied threat against practitioners who might question Covid-19 vaccination policy, saying: “Any promotion of anti-vaccination statements or health advice which contradicts the best scientific evidence or seeks to actively undermine the national immunisation campaign (including via social media) is not supported by National Boards and may be in breach of the codes of conduct and subject to investigation and possible regulatory action.” (My emphasis.)
Who decides what is ‘the best scientific evidence’, and is this open to question by health practitioners without penalty?
It seems it’s the Members of the 15 National Boards who are in breach of the codes of conduct, by approving the AHPRA Position Statement, which recklessly disregards the obligation for voluntary informed consent for vaccination, and coerces practitioners into unquestioning support for the then Morrison Government’s Covid-19 vaccination policy, pressing these medical products across mass populations, regardless of individual disease risk and health status.
The AHPRA Position Statement is an overtly intimidating ‘gag order’, which has censored critical thinking about the Covid-19 vaccination rollout across most of the medical profession, along with the scientific establishment and academia, the political and judicial systems, and the mainstream corporate media, including the taxpayer-funded ABC and SBS. Open discussion on this subject has been deliberately impeded.
Martin Fletcher, Anne Tonkin and Members of the 15 National Boards, the AHPRA Position Statement 9 March 2021 is a disastrous directive that has helped facilitate the violation of voluntary informed consent for Covid- 19 vaccination.
What steps will AHPRA and the Members of the 15 National Boards take to acknowledge and redress the enormous damage done by the AHPRA Position Statement 9 March 2021, which remains ongoing under the Albanese Government?
Please acknowledge receipt of this email, including that it has been forwarded individually to Members of the 15 National Boards.
Sincerely
Elizabeth Hart
Independent researcher investigating vaccine products and conflicts of interest in vaccination policy vaccinationispolitical.net
* A highlighted copy of the AHPRA Position Statement 9 March 2021 is attached, along with other documents cited in this email.
Please forward this email to Members of the 15 National Boards listed below:
(Information provided by Amanda Watson, AHPRA National Complaints Manager, 21 July 2023 via hyperlink. See copy of webpage accessed 31 July 2023 attached.)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia
Renee Owen, Chair
Bruce Brown, appointed as a community member
Leanne Quirino, appointed as a practitioner member from South Australia
Iris Raye, appointed as a practitioner member from Northern Territory
Abbey Shillingford, appointed as a community member
Margaret McCallum, appointed as a community member
Christopher O’Brien, appointed as a practitioner member from New South Wales Danielle Martin, appointed as a practitioner member from Queensland
Chinese Medicine Board of Australia
Adjunct Professor Danforn Lim, Chair and practitioner member from New South Wales Dina Tsiopelas, practitioner member from South Australia
Roderick Martin, practitioner member from Queensland
Johannah Shergis, practitioner member from Victoria
Luke Hubbard, practitioner member from Western Australia Sophy Athan, community member from Victoria
David Brereton, community member from Tasmania
Bing Tian, practitioner member from the ACT
Stephanie Campbell, community member from New South Wales
Chiropractic Board of Australia
Dr Wayne Minter AM, Chair and practitioner member from New South Wales Dr Abbey Chilcott, practitioner member from Western Australia
Mrs Colleen Papadopoulos, community member from Queensland
Mr Ken Riddiford, community member from Queensland
Professor Anna Ryan, practitioner member from Victoria
Dr Michael Shobbrook AM, practitioner member from the Australian Capital Territory Dr Arcady Turczynowicz, practitioner member from South Australia
Dr Ailsa Wood (nee Patterson), practitioner member from Queensland
Dental Board of Australia
Dr Murray Thomas, appointed as Chair and practitioner member (dentist) from the Australian Capital Territory Mr Robin Brown, appointed as a community member from the Australian Capital Territory
Dr Penelope Burns, appointed as a practitioner member (dentist) from New South Wales
Mrs Julia Christensen, appointed as a community member from the Northern Territory
Ms Jacqui Gibson-Roos, appointed as community member from Victoria
Mrs Kim Jones, appointed as a community member from New South Wales
Professor Richard Logan, appointed as a practitioner member (dental specialist) from South Australia Mr Tan Nguyen, appointed as a practitioner member (oral health therapist) from Victoria
Mrs Janice Okine, appointed as a practitioner member (oral health therapist) from Queensland
Dr Kate Raymond, appointed as a practitioner member (dentist) from the Northern Territory
Dr Simon Shanahan, appointed as a practitioner member (dentist) from Western Australia
Ms Carolynne Smith, appointed as a practitioner member (dental prosthetist) from Tasmania
Medical Board of Australia
Dr Anne Tonkin AO, Chair, Medical Board of Australia
Associate Professor Stephen Adelstein, practitioner member from New South Wales Mr Mark Bodycoat, community member from South Australia
Dr Kerrie Bradbury, practitioner member from the Australian Capital Territory
Dr Samuel Goodwin, practitioner member from the Northern Territory
Dr Daniel Heredia, practitioner member from Western Australia
Ms Eileen Jerga, community member from the Australian Capital Territory
Dr Andrew Mulcahy, practitioner member from Tasmania
Dr Debra O’Brien, practitioner member from Victoria
Dr Susan O’Dwyer, practitioner member from Queensland
Ms Michelle Wright, community member from Victoria
Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia
Ms Cara Miller Chair, practitioner member, South Australia
Mr Brendan McKernan, practitioner member, Western Australia
Mr Richard Bialkowski, community member, New South Wales
Mr Anthony Buxton, practitioner member, New South Wales
Mr James Green, practitioner member, Australian Capital Territory Ms Joan Burns, community member, South Australia
Mr Travis Pearson, practitioner member, Queensland
Mr Roger Weckert, practitioner member, Northern Territory Associate Professor Caroline Wright, practitioner member, Victoria Ms Lucy Galloway, practitioner member, Tasmania
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
Adjunct Professor Veronica Casey AM, Chair of the National Board and health practitioner, Queensland David Carpenter, health practitioner, Northern Territory
Dr Christopher Helms, health practitioner, Australian Capital Territory
Sonja Ilievska, community member, Victoria
Dr Jessa Rogers, community member, South Australia
Catherine Schofield, health practitioner, Tasmania
Associate Professor Linda Starr, health practitioner, South Australia Annette Symes, health practitioner, New South Wales
Jennifer Wood, health practitioner, Western Australia
Occupational Therapy Board of Australia
Ms Julie Brayshaw, Chair and practitioner member from Western Australia Ms Kate Andrews, practitioner member from Victoria
Mr Darryl Annett, community member from Victoria
Ms Roxanne Marcelle-Shaw, community member from New South Wales Ms Jen Morris, community member from Victoria
Dr Claire Pearce (PhD), practitioner member from the Australian Capital Territory Associate Professor Justin Scanlan, practitioner member from New South Wales Ms Rebecca Singh, practitioner member from South Australia
Ms Angela Thynne, practitioner member from Queensland
Optometry Board of Australia
Mr Stuart Aamodt, presiding member and health practitioner from Western Australia Dr Carla Abbott, health practitioner from Victoria
Mr Anthony Evans, community member
Mr Benjamin Graham, community member
Associate Professor Rosemary Knight, community member
Mr Martin Robinson, health practitioner from Tasmania
Miss Renee Slunjski, health practitioner from South Australia Professor Sharon Bentley, health practitioner from Queensland Health practitioner from New South Wales – vacant
Osteopathy Board of Australia
Dr Nikole Grbin, osteopath
Dr Pamela Dennis, osteopath
Ms Robyn Davis, appointed as community member
Dr Julia Duffy, appointed as community member
Mrs Marcella Lazarus, appointed as community member
Dr Rebecca Malon, appointed as practitioner member from Queensland Dr Timothy McNamara, appointed as practitioner member from Victoria Associate Professor Paul Orrock PhD, osteopath
Dr Andrew Yaksich, osteopath
Paramedicine Board of Australia
Professor Stephen Gough ASM, Chair and practitioner member from Queensland
Ms Clare Beech, practitioner member from New South Wales
Mr Keith Driscoll ASM, practitioner member from South Australia
Associate Professor Ian Patrick ASM, Deputy Chair and practitioner member from Victoria Ms Angela Wright, practitioner member from Western Australia
Mr Howard Wren ASM, practitioner member from a small jurisdiction – Australian Capital Territory Ms Linda Renouf, community member
Ms Tiina-Liisa Sexton, community member
Pharmacy Board of Australia
Mr Brett Simmonds, appointed as Chair and a practitioner member from Queensland Ms Elise Apolloni, appointed as a practitioner member from ACT
Ms Melissa Cadzow, appointed as a community member
Dr Alice Gilbert, appointed as a practitioner member from the Northern Territory
Mr Mark Kirschbaum, appointed as a practitioner member from Tasmania
Ms Hannah Mann, appointed as a practitioner member from Western Australia
Dr Suzanne Martin, appointed as a community member
Dr Amy Page, appointed as a practitioner member from Victoria
Dr Cameron Phillips, appointed as a practitioner member from South Australia
Dr Janet Preuss, appointed as a community member
Mr Rod Wellington, appointed as a community member
Mr Laurence (Ben) Wilkins, appointed as a practitioner member from New South Wales.
Physiotherapy Board of Australia
Ms Kim Gibson, Chair and practitioner member from Western Australia
Sally Adamson, appointed as a practitioner member from Northern Territory Mrs Janet Blake, appointed as a community member from Victoria
Mr David Cross, appointed as a practitioner member from New South Wales Paula Harding, appointed as a practitioner member from Victoria
Ms Cherie Hearn, appointed as a practitioner member from Queensland Professor Sheila Lennon, appointed as a practitioner member South Australia Rosemary Martin, appointed as a community member from NSW
Allan Renouf, appointed as a community member from Queensland
Ms Elizabeth Trickett, appointed as a practitioner member from the ACT Kate Waterford, appointed as a community member from the ACT Simon Watt, appointed as a practitioner member from Tasmania
Podiatry Board of Australia
Associate Professor Cylie Williams, Chair and practitioner member from Victoria Ms Raelene Harrison, community member from Victoria
Ms Julia Kurowski, practitioner member from Western Australia
Dr Kristy Robson (PhD), practitioner member from New South Wales
Mr Anthony Short, practitioner member from Queensland
Ms Shellee Smith, community member from Queensland
Mrs Kathryn ‘Kate’ Storer (Shonk), practitioner member from the Australian Capital Territory Professor Andrew Taggart, community member from Western Australia
Mr Andrew van Essen, practitioner member from South Australia
Psychology Board of Australia
No members listed?
