Arabic version: الأطباء يحذرون من الاستخدام السياسي لمعلومات المرضى

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has stated that patient information should not be utilized as a political tool. This statement follows a significant blunder by the South Australian government during the state election campaign, where an email was mistakenly sent to the media from the wrong cancer patient.

Health Minister Chris Picton has taken full responsibility for the incident, which involved an email that was not only from the incorrect patient but also “not contemporaneous” in relation to a ramping story. Premier Peter Malinauskas has confirmed that Picton will not resign despite the controversy.

According to ABC News, the AMA’s South Australian president, Associate Professor Peter Subramaniam, criticized the use of non-consensual patient information for political purposes, emphasizing that it is distressing for families involved.

The email incident has raised concerns over ambulance ramping, a critical issue that the Malinauskas government had promised to address during the 2022 election campaign. Minister Picton acknowledged the mistake and expressed his commitment to ensuring such errors do not occur in the future, stating that more thorough checks are necessary before releasing patient information.

Liberal leader Ashton Hurn has voiced her concerns regarding the government’s decision to release the email, questioning their priorities in addressing systemic issues within the health system. As the situation unfolds, the South Australian government remains under scrutiny as it navigates the fallout from this incident.