Dr Rallah-Baker

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists’ (RANZCO’s) response to an Aboriginal Indigenous ophthalmologist’s article on his experience of racism in the profession has drawn criticism from several quarters, including the Australian Aboriginal and New Zealand Māori health communities. The College has responded by offering to meet Dr Kristopher Rallah-Baker at RANZCO’s Congress in Adelaide next week to discuss his concerns.

An open letter published on Australian health-focused social journalism site Croakey.org (https://tinyurl.com/ranzcoletter) expressed solidarity with Dr Rallah-Baker, describing him as “a proud Yuggera and Birri-Gubba-Juru man and Australia’s first and only Indigenous ophthalmologist.”

It said in RANZCO CEO Dr David Andrews’ editorial response “Dr Rallah-Baker’s experiences were discounted and dismissed without investigation.” It went on to say RANZCO’s stance did not appear to be conducive to redressing the gross under-representation of Indigenous Peoples within ophthalmology.

Signed by 37 health professionals, academics, and members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, it states “Dr Rallah-Baker’s powerful and instructive testimony should not have been so swiftly dismissed” and urges the College to “listen and learn from his experiences and commit to action in the interests of Indigenous health justice.”

It calls for RANZCO to apologise to Dr Rallah-Baker; to review and meaningfully address the concerns he has raised; to outline what specific strategies it has in place to support members who report discrimination, harassment and bullying; and advise what RANZCO will do to ensure all its staff, board and members understand what constitutes a culturally safe ophthalmology experience.

In New Zealand, the chair of Te ORA (the Māori Medical Practitioner Association), Professor David Tipene-Leach, also issued a statement commending Dr Rallah-Baker for making a stand, suggested RANZCO’s response was overly defensive, and called on the wider community to “fix this thing”.

Dr Rallah-Baker’s original article in Insight News speaking out about his experience of racism and bullying within his profession can be read in full here: https://tinyurl.com/rallahbaker.