Journal of Medical Ethics
Volume 35, Issue 9, 2009, Pages 546-551

Nursing in asylum seeker detention in Australia: Care, rights and witnessing (Article) (Open Access)

Zion D.* , Briskman L. , Loff B.
  • a Human Rights and Bioethics Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 89 Commercial Road, Melbourne 3004, Victoria, Australia
  • b Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
  • c Human Rights and Bioethics Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 89 Commercial Road, Melbourne 3004, Victoria, Australia

Abstract

The system of asylum seeker detention in Australia is one in which those seeking refuge are stripped of many of their rights, including the right to health. This presents serious ethical problems for healthcare providers working within this system. In this article we describe asylum seeker detention and analyse the role of nurses. We discuss how far an "ethics of care" and witnessing the suffering of asylum seekers can serve to improve their situation and improve ethical nursing practice.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

refugee Australia nursing psychological aspect Terrorism human ethics Refugees prisoner Prisoners Mental Disorders human rights mental disease Humans Article legal aspect Nurse-Patient Relations nurse patient relationship Healthcare Disparities health care disparity Health Services Accessibility health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-72449146774&doi=10.1136%2fjme.2009.029827&partnerID=40&md5=c4ab70eb8f5e95ffcd9c0758c8040731
DOI: 10.1136/jme.2009.029827
ISSN: 03066800
Cited by: 13
Original Language: English