Mandatory reporting of health professionals: the case for a Western Australian style exemption for all Australian practitioners.

ABSTRACT

This article discusses the current mandatory reporting obligations for health practitioners in Australia under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law. It provides a summary of the mandatory notification legislation, and contextualises the introduction of this law. The details of the Western Australian exemption, under which a treating doctor is exempt from mandatory reporting of a doctor-patient, and the rationale for its introduction are examined. This is followed by a consideration of the potential impact of the mandatory reporting obligations. The authors argue that the Western Australian exemption has merit and should be considered for adoption throughout Australia.