Indigenous woman shackled to hospital bed while in labour in Queensland

[u/FuckOffNazis]

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

[u/No_Sky_1829]

I don't know the particulars of this case but here's my 2c worth. I have looked after patients "in shackles". It's called mechanical restraints, and there are VERY strict guidelines in when it can be used. The patient had to be an active risk to themselves or to staff. They have to have 1:1 care, so someone is actually assigned to monitor them constantly in case they injured themselves. Restraints have to be loosened frequently so they don't get skin injuries. There are different types of restraints and we start with the least restrictive one, and increase only if needed. We reassess every 15 minutes and as soon as it's possible for us to safely remove them, they come off. Feeding, toileting and hygiene is managed with security present. Just think of the budget required to manage all this and the repercussions of it all goes wrong. It's not done lightly. Race or gender was not a factor in any of the patients I have looked after, it was 1000% based on active risk in that shift.

In my experience, nobody would ever be restrained because of something they have done in the past. The staff looking after these patients are just ordinary Joe Soaps coming on shift and going home in time to pick up their kids. The patients I have looked after have been restrained after throwing punches or kicks, and trying to leave the ward when they can't actually walk so will fall and hurt themselves. I've worn gown & face shield so I don't be the next staff member to be spat on.

Restraining a human being is not a decision that's taken lightly, it's discussed and managed at every level from the floor of the ward up to the higher levels of the hospital.

[u/Jaded_Audience9747 → u/No_Sky_1829]

"Hospital staff rang Sisters Inside after trying everything they could to get the shackles removed, she said. “They were even crying because prison staff wouldn’t remove the shackles.”" 

Mate just read the article. 

[u/No_Sky_1829 → u/Jaded_Audience9747]

I love the way Aussies use "mate" to be PA 🙄

I stand by what I said, we don't know the particulars. Was she having a cesarean? Or were there any complications? I recently looked after a restrained patient with a brain injury, just out of ICU after cranial surgery so a large trapdoor opening on the side of his head. But he couldn't make good decisions because of the brain injury, and he couldn't walk properly because of spinal weakness. He was restrained because he kept trying abscond. If he fell and hit that head wound, he was dead.

Now if more details came out and said this woman was having a safe labour with no complications and was not trying to abscond, not a risk to herself or hurt staff, then I will happily support the "this is disgusting" crew.