The fatal shooting of a guard at a Melbourne abortion clinic was a "wake-up call" for all doctors to enhance security, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) said today.
"It is a tragedy which emphasises the growing degree of violence against any medical staff, whether at hospitals, private clinics or other health-related facilities," AMA Victorian president Mukesh Haikerwal said.
Dr Haikerwal said the clinic where today's shooting happened obviously had such concerns in mind as it had hired a security firm.
Such a random act could not be averted, he said.
But doctors in general practice could take greater security measures to protect themselves, their staff and patients, he said.
"This particular shooting is something that is a wake-up call for us all as we go about our normal activity," he said.
"It's a call to say that we can't be blase about our own safety.
"We can't say we are beyond these random acts of violence."
Dr Haikerwal said doctors could install alarm systems, panic buttons, remote control door locks, and have 24-hour monitoring by security companies.
Doctors were often targeted for violence because it was wrongly perceived they had drugs and money on the premises, and also because they were seen as being part of the establishment.
A man was arrested and a weapon seized by police following the shooting at a clinic in Wellington Parade, East Melbourne shortly after 10am (AEST) this morning.
The Fertility Control Clinic, where the shooting took place, was Melbourne's first private clinic for abortions and pregnancy advice when it opened in 1972.
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I was looking for a better story about this, but this was the best I could find. It leaves out a few little facts - that there were abortion protesters already crowded around outside, that the police believe if those two men hadn't wrestled the gunman to the ground, there would have been a massacre - he had enough ammunition to kill everyone in the place, and the spokeswoman for 'Right To Life' suggested that it was and I quote 'probably a father who had lost his son or daughter in that place'.
Somehow I don't think so. The pro-life movement has a lot to answer for.
"It is a tragedy which emphasises the growing degree of violence against any medical staff, whether at hospitals, private clinics or other health-related facilities," AMA Victorian president Mukesh Haikerwal said.
Dr Haikerwal said the clinic where today's shooting happened obviously had such concerns in mind as it had hired a security firm.
Such a random act could not be averted, he said.
But doctors in general practice could take greater security measures to protect themselves, their staff and patients, he said.
"This particular shooting is something that is a wake-up call for us all as we go about our normal activity," he said.
"It's a call to say that we can't be blase about our own safety.
"We can't say we are beyond these random acts of violence."
Dr Haikerwal said doctors could install alarm systems, panic buttons, remote control door locks, and have 24-hour monitoring by security companies.
Doctors were often targeted for violence because it was wrongly perceived they had drugs and money on the premises, and also because they were seen as being part of the establishment.
A man was arrested and a weapon seized by police following the shooting at a clinic in Wellington Parade, East Melbourne shortly after 10am (AEST) this morning.
The Fertility Control Clinic, where the shooting took place, was Melbourne's first private clinic for abortions and pregnancy advice when it opened in 1972.
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I was looking for a better story about this, but this was the best I could find. It leaves out a few little facts - that there were abortion protesters already crowded around outside, that the police believe if those two men hadn't wrestled the gunman to the ground, there would have been a massacre - he had enough ammunition to kill everyone in the place, and the spokeswoman for 'Right To Life' suggested that it was and I quote 'probably a father who had lost his son or daughter in that place'.
Somehow I don't think so. The pro-life movement has a lot to answer for.
