MEDIA RELEASE

20 November 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Free Speech Union releases membership for healthcare professionals to unite against culture of censorship

The Free Speech Union has released a membership especially for healthcare professionals to ensure that speech is free within New Zealand’s healthcare system. This is for the benefit of both healthcare workers and their patients, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union.

“The practitioner-patient relationship is sacrosanct. Honesty and trust lie at the heart of that. Practitioners need to be free to talk openly and sincerely with their patients without censorship or fear of censure.

“But far too often, we see healthcare professionals silenced and disciplined by governing bodies for speaking freely. The effect of this censorship is large, resulting in others in the field self-censoring for fear of retribution.

“We need to know that we can rely on our medical professionals to advise us openly, honestly, and knowledgeably. Regulatory bodies and professional standards need to return to being guided by quality, not ideology.  

“This membership is the fifth of eight industry-specific memberships that we’re releasing this year to ensure Kiwis’ voices are free in all contexts. The release of this membership is timely as we represent yet another nurse, Jenny Hobson, who’s under investigation by Health NZ  for simply expressing her views online.

“Healthcare professionals do not give up their rights when they join the profession, and it’s time their speech was protected.”

Find more information about our membership for healthcare professionals here https://www.fsu.nz/healthcare