Doctors must report underage sex: AMAQ

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/18/2221470.htm

The Queensland branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMAQ) says doctors and health workers have a responsibility to report cases of underage sex to police.

Queensland Health workers do not have to notify the Department of Child Safety if 14- and 15-year-olds are sexually active, if there is no risk of sexual harm.

An advice to staff says they must document the sex was consensual between two similiarly aged young people.

But AMAQ president Ross Cartmill says underage sex is illegal and should always be reported.

“Any health worker should acknowledge that intercourse in somebody under 16 is illegal,” he said.

“While the doctor’s not a policeman, the doctor has to try and do something in terms of maintaining the best health possible for the person in question.

“But first and foremost it should be recognised that we do have a law and that law should be maintained.”

State Health Minister Stephen Robertson yesterday told Parliament all cases of suspected harm from sexual activity involving children under the age of 16 years are reported.

The Opposition’s Health spokesman, John Paul Langbroek, says that contradicts a health department memo that says staff do not have to report cases involving children aged 14 years and over if the sex is not considered harmful under a set of criteria.

“Queensland Health is choosing which laws to apply,” he said.

“I think most people in Queensland would expect the law to applied to everyone equally and if there are cases of underage sex that are discovered, then there is clearly a duty under a number of acts that should be applied.”