BY FRANCIS TAPIM
Doctors at a Brisbane hospital have refused to release a one-year-old girl, badly burnt on Nauru, until a “suitable home environment is identified”.
The girl was injured when boiling water was accidentally spilt inside the tent she was living in with her parents.
She was flown to Brisbane and admitted to Lady Cilento Hospital.
In a statement on Friday, a hospital spokesman said the baby would not be discharged until a “suitable home environment is identified, as is the case with every child who presents at hospital”.
“All decisions relating to a patient’s treatment and discharge are made by qualified clinical staff, based on a thorough assessment of the individual patient’s clinical condition and circumstances, and with the goal of delivering the best outcome,” the statement read.
It is understood the baby’s injuries are healing well and her condition is now listed as stable.
The girl’s parents are both in Brisbane and have been visiting her daily.
Hospital protest to keep burnt baby in Australia to continue
About 50 protesters gathered outside the hospital on Friday night to support the hospital’s decision — some held signs calling for the closure of detention centres on Manus and Nauru.
Protest spokeswoman Ellen Roberts said: “We are gathered here tonight in support of the young girl who is inside the hospital and her family.”
“We also … support the doctors who have taken a very brave stance in refusing to release her.”
Ros McLennan from the Queensland Council of Unions said protesters would continue to support hospital staff for as long as it takes.
“It’s absolutely disgraceful that the Federal Government can even be contemplating removing a sick little kid from a hospital situation in Brisbane to detention in Nauru,” she said.
“I absolutely commend the doctors, nurses and hospital staff for putting the child’s best interests above the ideological desires of the Federal Government.”
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s office has been contacted for comment.
This post originally appeared on ABC News.
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Top Comments
Perhaps the doctors can chip in to pay for the child's hospital stay. Too bad if other sick children need a hospital bed.
Are you serious? You Susie are what is wrong with the people of the world. This comment and you disgust me.
Well considering they would be paying a Medicare levy as part of their income, they are chipping in.
Most health professionals, myself included, choose to become so because we actually are prepared to spend our lives helping people. Do you honestly think we would purposely deny any child a hospital bed?
I'm sure the hospital has more than one bed.
How do we know it was an accident?
You're more cynical than I am, which is saying something.
What are you suggesting?
This one may have been, happens a bit but question is, will the next one be if they know their child will be held onshore in a hospital, much safer than a detention center
I mean they took so much risk to get this far, whats a little more to have their kid safe
I think these kind of accidents would be quite common when families have to live in crowded tents for months on end, no electricity or running water, or safe household devices to prepare food that we take for granted. Living long term in tents is an accident waiting to happen.