Sally Furniss
Well-known member
Bird-flu bill lets medical officers seize land, cars
27 May 2006
By KAMALA HAYMAN
Nurses will sign death certificates and medical officers will be able to seize any land, buildings or cars needed during a flu pandemic if far-reaching law changes are approved.
International health experts are warning all nations to prepare for a global pandemic as the lethal bird-flu virus spreads across Asia and into Europe, killing millions of birds and more than 100 people.
Seven members of a family have died in Indonesia despite no apparent contact with infected birds, raising the spectre the virus could be spreading between humans, although only through close and prolonged contact.
New Zealand health authorities are planning for a pandemic that could infect 40 per cent of the population and kill 33,000 people, overwhelming health services.
Now an Epidemic Preparedness Bill proposes extending the powers of nurses and medical officers to help authorities cope.
The bill proposes allowing nurses to sign death certificates ? currently only done by doctors ? if no doctor was available for at least 24 hours. However, it forbids the issuing of a death certificate if a doctor or nurse who attended the patient during the illness had refused to issue the death certificate because the cause of death was not clear.
Medical Association chairman Ross Boswell said this proposal was "odd" because nurses were likely to be even busier than doctors during a pandemic. "We need nurses looking after patients, not doing paperwork."
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He suggested lawyers be asked to sign the certificates if doctors were not available. "It is a medico-legal (document) and they will not be involved in care of the sick and dying."
Pegasus Health nursing director Shelley Frost said health services would change significantly during a pandemic.
"Doctors and nurses are going to get sick, so we will be struggling with a greatly reduced workforce and will need to take on different roles," she said.
She agreed nurses would be busy, but everyone would have to adapt during the crisis.
The bill proposes significantly extending the powers of medical officers.
They would be able to requisition any land or buildings ? publicly or privately owned ? for a wide range of reasons, including the treatment of patients or storing or disposal of bodies.
Vehicles could also be taken if they were needed to transport patients, doctors or medical equipment, or to carry food, tents or other temporary facilities.
Medical officers would also have the authority to close any premises in their district, except private homes, courts and prisons, and to insist on certain infection-control measures.
Police would have the power to "do anything reasonably necessary, including the use of force", to help medical officers exercise their powers.
Canterbury medical officer of health Mel Brieseman said the law currently listed the types of premises medical officers could close, so was too restrictive, and in some cases, such as billiard halls, out of date.
Currently, the law allowed buildings to be requisitioned during an emergency, but only if they were needed for a hospital. Medical officers could not seize land or vehicles under existing law.
The parliamentary administration select committee is due to report on the bill by July 31.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3681325a11,00.html
27 May 2006
By KAMALA HAYMAN
Nurses will sign death certificates and medical officers will be able to seize any land, buildings or cars needed during a flu pandemic if far-reaching law changes are approved.
International health experts are warning all nations to prepare for a global pandemic as the lethal bird-flu virus spreads across Asia and into Europe, killing millions of birds and more than 100 people.
Seven members of a family have died in Indonesia despite no apparent contact with infected birds, raising the spectre the virus could be spreading between humans, although only through close and prolonged contact.
New Zealand health authorities are planning for a pandemic that could infect 40 per cent of the population and kill 33,000 people, overwhelming health services.
Now an Epidemic Preparedness Bill proposes extending the powers of nurses and medical officers to help authorities cope.
The bill proposes allowing nurses to sign death certificates ? currently only done by doctors ? if no doctor was available for at least 24 hours. However, it forbids the issuing of a death certificate if a doctor or nurse who attended the patient during the illness had refused to issue the death certificate because the cause of death was not clear.
Medical Association chairman Ross Boswell said this proposal was "odd" because nurses were likely to be even busier than doctors during a pandemic. "We need nurses looking after patients, not doing paperwork."
Advertisement
Advertisement
He suggested lawyers be asked to sign the certificates if doctors were not available. "It is a medico-legal (document) and they will not be involved in care of the sick and dying."
Pegasus Health nursing director Shelley Frost said health services would change significantly during a pandemic.
"Doctors and nurses are going to get sick, so we will be struggling with a greatly reduced workforce and will need to take on different roles," she said.
She agreed nurses would be busy, but everyone would have to adapt during the crisis.
The bill proposes significantly extending the powers of medical officers.
They would be able to requisition any land or buildings ? publicly or privately owned ? for a wide range of reasons, including the treatment of patients or storing or disposal of bodies.
Vehicles could also be taken if they were needed to transport patients, doctors or medical equipment, or to carry food, tents or other temporary facilities.
Medical officers would also have the authority to close any premises in their district, except private homes, courts and prisons, and to insist on certain infection-control measures.
Police would have the power to "do anything reasonably necessary, including the use of force", to help medical officers exercise their powers.
Canterbury medical officer of health Mel Brieseman said the law currently listed the types of premises medical officers could close, so was too restrictive, and in some cases, such as billiard halls, out of date.
Currently, the law allowed buildings to be requisitioned during an emergency, but only if they were needed for a hospital. Medical officers could not seize land or vehicles under existing law.
The parliamentary administration select committee is due to report on the bill by July 31.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3681325a11,00.html