What's up doc?

Medics who work with children spoke up at Thursday's submissions on the Crimes Amendment Bill. The Paediatric Society of New Zealand represents over 400 members in every DHB in the country and they say - Repeal s.59. "The primary issue at stake here for us as child health professionals is the protection of children from violence". The paediatricians think s.59 sends the wrong message. They front up to public worries about criminalisation: "We recognise that there has been concern expressed by the general public about parents being criminalized for use of mild physical punishment. For charges to be laid against caregivers in this context two important things need to happen: 1 The incident needs to be reported to investigating authorities 2. The Police need to decide to prosecute We believe that the Police and the public, and in particular those of the public working with children, will use appropriate discretion on these matters as has always been the case. The best interests of the child should be the guiding principle." The oral submission is available on the Paediatric Society of NZ website