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Transcript of Report - Medical Neglect in Immigration Detention Centres - Dr Bill Ward and Dr Bill Glasson with Reporter Toni Hassan - The World Today, ABC Radio, Monday 21 July 2003

E & OE - PROOF ONLY

ELEANOR HALL: The Australian Medical Association is today calling on the Federal Department of Immigration to step in and assist a teenage boy whose eye-sight has deteriorated while he's been held in immigration detention centres in Western Australia.

Shahin Agdar developed a severe eye condition while in detention and was seen by in-house clinicians back in December 2001. However, his condition was misdiagnosed, potentially causing a loss of sight in one eye. And specialists and refugee advocates now say the 14 year-old is certain to go blind in both eyes if he doesn't receive urgent surgical care.

The young detainee's predicament again puts under the spotlight the provision of medical services in Australian detention centres, and comes just weeks before the expected release of a Commonwealth Ombudsman report into the alleged failings of the system, as Toni Hassan reports.

TONI HASSAN: Shahin Adgar's case began in mid-2001 when he complained of not being able to see the blackboard.

Ophthalmologist in Perth, Bill Ward.

BILL WARD: He developed, started to develop sore eyes in about May 2001. He saw the medical officers at the camp them and they said 'look, we'll get you to see an optometrist.'

But the optometrist didn't come until the 20th of February the following year. And then he said 'well you know, this is a pre-existing problem, he's never been able to see well' despite the fact that the parents were saying he could. And then they made another referral to an ophthalmologist who didn't come for a further six weeks.

So between the time that he was saying that his vision was terrible, and his vision was shown to be terrible, and actually seeing somebody who could diagnose the illness was from the beginning of November until the end of March the following year.

TONI HASSAN: Was it a case of not being believed?

BILL WARD: Yeah, it was a case of not being believed.

TONI HASSAN: After significant delays, the 14 year-old was eventually seen by Dr Ward in Perth and admitted to Prince Margaret Hospital for emergency surgery. But by that stage the severity of his auto-immune disease, a disease that attacks the eyes, had already set in, and damage in one eye was beyond repair.

BILL WARD: What it shows is the attitude, well, I suppose I shouldn't judge the Government's attitude, but I just think that they obviously are treating these people in a very cavalier manner.

This boy had problems with his eyes for four months before anybody really paid any attention and did anything about it, and it really got to the stage where he had lost his vision in his right eye.

And since then - I thought that was bad enough - but since then, despite fairly strong advice to the contrary, they'd returned him to a place where there is no very close supervision for somebody who's got a very serious eye disease.

And I think, you know, it's just, I don't know, it's unacceptable. It really wouldn't happen with an Australian child.

TONI HASSAN: What needs to be done now?

BILL WARD: If they are going to keep him in detention, then they should at least allow him to be near a major centre where he can get ongoing care. And he's absolutely terrified that he's going to lose the vision in his left eye.

TONI HASSAN: Do you think that will happen?

BILL WARD: It could happen, yeah. It could happen, definitely.

TONI HASSAN: A spokeswoman for the Department of Immigration had told the World Today that at no stage has Shahin Adgar been denied proper treatment. The Department doesn't dispute that he was initially misdiagnosed, but the boy is now receiving adequate and necessary treatment at Port Headland.

The Minister Phillip Ruddock, who's overseas until Saturday, has asked for a submission detailing the health and treatment history of Shahin.

Numerous letters have been written to the Department by concerned people requesting Shahin Adgar be moved. But a spokeswoman for the Department says community requests the boy be released is a different issue all together, and won't be considered while the family is before courts pursuing a protection visa.

A recent Family Court finding that the indefinite detention of children is unlawful has given refugee advocates including Rosemary Hudson-Miller, Social Justice Consultant with the Uniting Church, who's been in constant contact with Shahin and his family, hope that more can be done.

ROSEMARY HUDSON-MILLER: What it does do is demonstrate why children and their families should not be in detention, because the parents could not then take the child to a second opinion if they were unhappy with the treatment that they were getting in the detention centre, which they clearly were, that they can't then go and get a second opinion like any normal parent who was caring for their child would do.

TONI HASSAN: Dr Bill Glasson, the President of the Australian Medical Association, himself an ophthalmologist, has added his voice to those worried that this case is not unrepresentative.

BILL GLASSON: Well, I think the system's not working. I always say that essentially, if we take on the responsibility of looking after people for whatever reason, from the medical perspective we must make sure that they can access the same medical care as we'd expect any other Australian.

I think what's happening here is that the system has broken down, and that essentially we have to re-look at the system to ensure that those people who do require medical services get them, and get them in the appropriate manner and the appropriate standards.

TONI HASSAN: Shahin Adgar also has cataracts and glaucoma and requires further surgery. His treatment is being investigated by the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

ELEANOR HALL: Toni Hassan with our report.

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