"Discriminatory emergency care"

I attended the Emergency Department at Wonthaggi Hospital one recent weekend due to an infection I had that I believe I knew, without doubt, required antibiotics ASAP and could not wait until Monday.

I have a condition PTSD due to domestic violence which eventually left me with 2 crushed vertebrae L1 and L2. Due to this condition which includes, depression, panic attacks and high anxiety I am unable to wear a mask.

Upon arriving at the hospital I was approached by a security guard and told that to enter the hospital I had to wear a mask. I explained I had an exemption. Eventually, they told me I could wear a face shield which I did. I was asked a series of questions by this person including my personal, federally-protected vaccination status.

Upon entering the first set of doors in the enclosed glassed-in section just prior to the main hospital entrance, I was told by a nurse that regardless of the medical exemption, I could not enter the hospital without a mask and that I would have to be seen here.

The nurse later came back out with a specimen jar and told me they needed a urine sample. As I could not enter the hospital I was told to go to a public toilet! I am in my 60s and told the nurse how disgusting I felt this discrimination was and that in all my years I never expected to be treated so poorly and that I would not care to live in a world like this. The Nurse apologized saying they were just following the rules and continued enforcing what I feel was the discrimination. I sat in this cold space that night for 3 hours with a security guard of the opposite sex.

The Dr eventually came out apologizing for my treatment and with the same security guard still in the same space as me, 2 to 3 meters away continued with the consultation with the Dr asking my condition for being there, my past medical conditions and medications and how they were going to treat my current problem of infection.

Apart from the infection, I was well, no temp, no cough, no sore throat etc. I was well! However, my blood pressure was very high due to the stress and treatment of the situation. The Dr again apologized, recommending that I write to you regarding the poor treatment and discrimination I feel I received. I told the Dr how appalling and disgusting I felt the discrimination was and that I can not believe human beings can treat other human beings so poorly. Where was the compassion, empathy and spiritual connection within humanity? I had an infection and was not a leper even though I felt I had been treated as one!

To have a stranger, a security guard of the opposite sex present in the same space as me, privy to my personal health information which is protected under Federal Law ... as Dr/patient information is private and protected under Federal Law, I feel this was an absolute disgrace and breach of my human rights and privacy. Unacceptable under any circumstances, in my opinion!

In my opinion, Wonthaggi Hospital supports division and 2-class status...shame on you!

In the last few months, I have had 2 day surgeries at another hospital about 4 weeks apart. I had pre and post-op appointments with specialists there and was treated with respect, no discrimination!

As I understand it, mandates and rules are not law, law must go through the process of Parliament. Masks even under the mandates have medical exemptions!

As a direct result of my experience in Wonthaggi Hospital, my stress levels and anxiety went through the roof! I cried all the way home and on and off for hours and did not sleep at all that night! I could feel myself spiralling down in depression and lack of self-worth.

It has taken a couple of days to regain some emotional and mental balance for me to be able to string words together in order to write you.

I believe my Human Rights as a living, breathing person which are protected under Federal Law and the Consitution, were breached by Wonthaggi Hospital in a number of ways!

I await your reply before reporting you to Human Rights Commission.

Sincerely,

Discriminated1