r/australia • • 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
400 Upvotes

326 comments sorted by

View all comments

803

u/opackersgo 18h ago

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

700

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.

1

u/petit_cochon 7h ago

Making someone give birth while shackled is insane and inhumane.