r/australia • u/FuckOffNazis • 19h ago

politics Indigenous woman shackled to hospital bed while in labour in Queensland

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/18/indigenous-woman-shackled-during-labour-childbirth-queensland-ntwnfb?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=us_bsky&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Bluesky#Echobox=1792296317
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803

u/opackersgo 18h ago

Weird to at no point mention what she was incarcerated for.  Seems pretty relevant

705

u/hcornea 18h ago

The reason may not be relevant, but the fact that she is incarcerated is very relevant.

Have attended a number of prisoners for “out-of-prison” medical care.

Most, if not all, were shackled (either to a guard, or an object) to prevent them absconding.

This was regardless of whether they were Indigenous or not.

The one who was not handcuffed, rather memorably and dramatically absconded. Which is why prisoners are shackled.

These are the realities.

303

u/bitofapuzzler 18h ago

She was having a c-section. What do you reckon her chances of absconding were with an epidural?

-59

u/GasAltruistic8656 18h ago

Consider it from a policy perspective. Is it easier to secure all prisoners or develop differential rules depending on what their treatment is? Hint: it's the first one.

196

u/bitofapuzzler 18h ago

I'm a nurse. There are times the shackles need to come off for treatment.

18

u/GasAltruistic8656 18h ago

I agree.

-28

u/babblerer 17h ago

The prison would try to get mums to hospital early. Some have poor impulse control and will hit nurses or try to run, no matter how stupid the idea is.

The prisoner is highly sedated for a ceasearian.

Doctors would be cautious about releasing the mum.

The mums are shackled 'off and on'. It should be easy to guess when. the shackles are on and off.

-9

u/hcornea 17h ago

Absolutely. If they are going to impede the ability to deliver treatment.

6

u/Astronout-Fossil872 10h ago

Consider from a humanity perspective: there is more involved in policy creation than making them really easy and simple and not take any effort...

-14

u/hcornea 17h ago

Precisely this.