By Joshua Boscaini, ABC
Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh were filmed speaking to an Israeli content creator. (Supplied) Photo: Supplied
Medical workers have condemned a video showing two NSW Health nurses bragging about killing and refusing to treat Israeli patients at a Sydney hospital.
Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, who are both nurses at Bankstown Hospital in Sydney's south-west, have been stood down after they appeared in a clip shared by content creator Max Veifer.
The circumstances preceding the pair's comments are unclear as the video contains visible edits.
Solicitor Mohamad Sakr, representing Mr Nadir, said that his client had sent a "very sincere apology to not only that individual, but to the Jewish community as a whole".
"He understands what has happened, he is trying to make amends for what has happened," Mr Sakr said.
"He has never appeared before the court in relation to any criminal matters. He is a person of prior good character. It is unfortunate to find himself in a situation like this."
The Australian Medical Association said it condemned the "antisemitic commentary". Photo: ABC News: Jak Rowland
Australian Medical Association NSW president Kathryn Austin said it condemned the "antisemitic commentary" in the strongest possible terms.
"We want to make it very clear that doctors, nurses and other health practitioners are committed to providing the best possible care to every patient in NSW," Dr Austin said.
The union representing nurses and midwives said the conduct was "deplorable, unacceptable and cannot be tolerated".
"Health practitioners are bound by codes of conduct to care for all people, regardless of their circumstances," NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association acting general secretary Michael Whaites said.
"Our membership embraces many cultures and we are all shocked by [Wednesday's] events. Members of trade unions stand together, united in opposing racism, bigotry and hatred," he said.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation said nurses were bound by professional conduct and ethics which required them to take care for everyone.
"Nurses treat people on a needs' basis, not on race, religion, gender or sexual preference," the union said.
Australian Patients Association chief executive Lisa Robins said no patient should fear being denied treatment because of their nationality or religious identity.
"At some point in our lives, we are all patients and as a patient community, we must take a firm, unwavering stand against such egregious and unacceptable behaviour," she said.
Tribe Family Lawyers chief executive Maree Livermore told the ABC that the video could instil a level of fear or uncertainty in the community about how some people would be greeted in the medical system.
"This video opens a can of worms because clearly there is some of this assessment going on that is unilateral perception by a healthcare provider that certain forms of service will be denied to people of a certain type or identity," Dr Livermore said.
Maree Livermore said there are laws to protect people from being discriminated against. Photo: Supplied
Dr Livermore said there were a number of laws, regulations and codes of conduct medical workers must abide by to protect people from being discriminated against while receiving healthcare.
She said those protections stipulate that no-one can be treated differently on the basis of their race, culture, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation and social or economic status.
Dr Livermore said that if a patient believed they were being discriminated against, they should raise the matter with the healthcare provider in the first instance and collect evidence if they are not satisfied with the response.
"If you feel like you're not being attended to or your treatment is poor because of a reason you don't understand, ask the question, ask the immediate nurse, ask the nursing manager, 'What is going on here?'," she said.
She said that complaint, and the evidence collected, could then be referred to the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission, which can investigate and take disciplinary action against a healthcare worker.
Supriya Subramani from Sydney Health Ethics at the University of Sydney said health care workers have ethical obligations to uphold in their work.
Supriya Subramani says the video should lead to a wider review of the healthcare system. Photo: Supplied: Supriya Subramani
"It's the responsibility of every healthcare professional to foster a culture of safety because trust is important," Dr Subramani said.
"Medical professionals have this obligation, and that's an ethical obligation, that is you do not harm."
Dr Subramani said the video should prompt a discussion about "structural discrimination" in Australia's healthcare system, including against Indigenous communities and refugee patients.
She said the video showed how institutions overlooked deeper, systemic discrimination in the healthcare system by reducing it to individual acts.
"I feel it is important to look at this incident within the larger systemic issues happening … it's important to acknowledge how this is systemic."
- ABC
