The AMA understands that in some states, during their undergraduate university course, some final year medical students have been employed inappropriately to fill medical workforce shortages.

The AMA believes that medical students are not substitutes for any type of Medical Officer and they should not be utilised to fill gaps in the medical workforce.

In particular, the AMA is concerned about reports that students employed in hospitals have been left without supervision and are undertaking tasks that require medical practitioner registration.

The AMA believes that the role of medical students in hospitals and other clinical settings should be focussed on learning rather than fulfilment of employment obligations and tasks.

It is inappropriate for medical students, by default or otherwise, to be performing the role of Medical Officer or undertaking tasks which require a registered medical practitioner. Allowing such a situation to arise places students - and potentially patients - at risk and raises medical indemnity and legal issues for the students, their supervisors, the hospital and the university. It may also place at risk the future medical registration of the student. It imposes an unfair and inappropriate burden of responsibility on students, their medical supervisors and other hospital staff.

The AMA does not oppose the employment of medical students by hospitals, as there are circumstances where medical students are employed successfully by hospital departments in appropriate roles (eg pathology assistant or orderly).

The AMA believes that the employment of medical students by hospitals in any capacity should only occur when students:

• are employed in appropriate job classifications (not Medical Officer) and are not undertaking work that would otherwise be part of their clinical training;
• are performing duties commensurate with their level of skill, knowledge and qualifications;
• do not undertake tasks that require medical practitioner registration;
• have clear job descriptions detailing what is expected of them in the workplace and that these are strictly adhered to;
• are appropriately supervised and trained for the work they do;
• are paid appropriately for work performed; and,
• have adequate indemnity insurance with the employer taking full medico-legal responsibility for all their activities.

It should also be ensured that the:

• employment arrangements do not impact on the ability of the student to meet the learning objectives of their medical degree;
• hours of employment do not encroach on time needed for learning activities.

Proposals for employment of medical students, and any existing employment situations, should be assessed against these criteria.