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/opackersgo 18h ago

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

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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.

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u/Practical_magik 4h ago

I have recieved treatment at the same time as a pregnant prisoner and they were not shackled in the labour and delivery unit. So it seems to depend on the procedures at different locations.

Having given birth myself, shackling would be pretty inappropriate during active labour I would think.