Page 4630 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 27 November 2019
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baby also had Trisomy 13, which results in deformities. This woman contacted her obstetrician, who suggested that she stay at the hospital and that a curette be performed. Minister, why is the Canberra Hospital sending women home with drugs to give birth to stillborn babies?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Ms Lawder for the question, which obviously goes to some very personal issues in relation to an individual person’s experience with the health system. We are in the middle of an inquiry into maternity services that the Assembly is undertaking. We certainly welcome the fact that women and families have shared their experiences about ACT public maternity services with that inquiry, and we look forward to receiving the recommendations of that inquiry.
Ms Lawder will be aware that I am not able to provide any advice or information on any matters relating to individuals due to the provisions of the Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act.
MS LAWDER: Minister, what does a woman do with a stillborn child at home after the hospital has sent her home?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I will take Ms Lawder’s question on notice, on the basis of wanting to get some further information in relation to this matter. Obviously, I was not minister at the time in May, and I have not been briefed on this individual matter. In fact, I would be unable to be briefed on this individual matter, due to the provisions of the Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act, unless the patient signed a release.
Mrs Dunne: That’s not true.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: It is absolutely true, Mrs Dunne. It is certainly the advice that I have received.
Ms Lee: Point of order. The question, along with the first one, was specifically: why is the Canberra Hospital sending women home and what does a woman do with a stillborn child? It was not asking for the circumstances of this specific incident. It was the preamble. It was talking about the background. But the questions themselves are specifically talking about women and the Canberra Hospital.
MADAM SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The minister has been responding to the principles of the question that was asked.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I have already taken the question on notice. I am just trying to provide some further information to the chamber about the operation of the Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act, which does prevent me getting access to information on individual matters unless a release has been signed by those individual patients.
MS LEE: Minister, how many women in the past year have been sent home alone to deliver a stillborn baby?
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