Doctors have expressed outrage after Melbourne’s Royal Children’s hospital (RCH) suddenly cancelled a planned panel discussion on the effects of war on children’s health, just days after its chief executive received a letter alleging the event would pose a risk to Jewish staff and patients.
The “Children and War” event was scheduled for 17 September as part of the RCH’s weekly educational and professional development all-staff meetings, known as “grand rounds”. It was described as an exploration of “what war means for children, and how health professionals can help protect and care for those affected”.
