RCN comment on the appeal of Bahrain nurses

Published: 24 October 2011

Royal College of Nursing Executive Director of Nursing and Service Delivery, Janet Davies, said:

“We remain deeply concerned about the harsh sentencing of these healthcare professionals. It is vital that they be allowed a full and fair appeal – something that was clearly lacking during their initial trial, which lasted just a few minutes. We are also concerned about the allegations of torture suffered by the healthcare professionals while in detention.

“Health professionals have an ethical duty to treat all patients regardless of race, religion or political allegiance. However, those sentenced seem to have been targeted for peacefully carrying out their professional duties and treating injured patients.

“The eyes of nursing and the medical world are watching in the expectation that the Bahraini authorities will adhere to the agreements which they signed into national law, such as the part of the International Bill of Human Rights to which they are signatories.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 020 7647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit  http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media
2. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations