A leading Australian physician has unleashed a storm of criticism over a controversial policy at Melbourne’s St Vincent’s Hospital, which gives Indigenous patients priority treatment in the emergency department — a move described by medical experts as “a breach of core ethical and clinical principles.”
Professor John Wilson, former president of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and long-time member of Alfred Health’s ethics committee, condemned the hospital’s decision, saying it violates medical codes of conduct and even the Declaration of Geneva, which calls for all patients to be treated equally regardless of race, gender, or background.
“This is a sad situation that should not have occurred in the first place,” Professor Wilson said. “Doctors are now being placed in a moral and ethical dilemma, forced to go against the principles they have upheld throughout their careers.”
The policy, introduced in April 2024, mandates that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients receive a minimum triage category of three, meaning they must be seen within 30 minutes of arrival—even if their conditions are less urgent than others waiting. Critics argue this approach prioritises race over clinical need, which they warn could undermine public trust in hospital systems.
The revelation has triggered national outrage and prompted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office to investigate whether the policy breaches anti-discrimination laws, Australia’s Charter of Healthcare Rights, or obligations under the National Health Reform Agreement.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin and Shadow Health Minister Georgie Crozier have written formally to the Prime Minister, demanding clarity on whether the move is legally and ethically defensible. “This policy risks creating perceptions of discrimination and eroding confidence in the fairness of triage decisions,” they said.
Yet not everyone agrees with the backlash. Legal and social justice experts such as Emily Hart, principal at Arnold Thomas & Becker, defended the initiative, citing the disproportionately poor health outcomes and longer waiting times Indigenous Australians often face. “Given the historical and systemic disadvantage in healthcare, there’s strong evidence supporting targeted measures to close the gap,” she said.
Meanwhile, St Vincent’s Hospital has stood firm. A spokesperson said the change is part of a broader effort to improve access and equity for Indigenous patients, aligning with research showing they are typically seen later and receive fewer follow-ups than non-Indigenous Australians.
Adding to the tension, the controversy coincides with the Allan government’s Treaty legislation, expected to pass Parliament this week. The bill enshrines Indigenous “truth-telling,” establishes new naming authorities, and creates Gellung Warl, a powerful Indigenous council tasked with overseeing government policy on First Nations matters.
Still, for many in the medical community, the ethical storm brewing at St Vincent’s may mark a new crossroads in Australian healthcare — one that pits social justice against medical impartiality, with the principles of fairness and equality now fiercely debated at the heart of the nation’s hospitals.
