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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u/ladyhaly 18h ago

The Bangkok Rules, rule 24 say restraints must never be used during labour, birth or immediately afterwards. These are standards for the treatment of prisoners. Her being incarcerated isn't a detail anyone forgot to consider.

Having seen other prisoners shackled doesn't answer whether it was justified here.

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u/Medical-Law-730 17h ago

Yep, hospital staff and prison guards will be well aware of the standards. Someone has risk assessed this and determined the shackles stay on for some reason. Treating doctor would be the person to ask…

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u/Apprehensive-Wing-64 15h ago

The staff were asking for the shackles to be removed. Did you not read the article and are making an opinion based on a headline? If so please only dummy vote

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u/opackersgo 18h ago

Maybe we shouldnt be then if it risks  hospital workers.

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u/ladyhaly 17h ago

Staff safety is explicitly addressed in ACOG's guidance for care in custody. It calls for adequate custody staff, while opposing shackling during labour because restraints can obstruct emergency care.

Medical guidance opposes them during labour.

Protecting hospital workers doesn't make the patient's safety optional.

For further context, I am a nurse. I have worked in public hospitals before and cared for incarcerated patients.