AUSTRALIANS living in aged care should not be restrained or medicated as punishment or to make life easier for staff, human rights advocates will tell federal politicians.
Parliament's joint committee on human rights is holding a hearing into recent changes aimed at limiting the use of both physical and chemical restraints in aged care facilities.
It comes after some groups reached out to the committee, warning the changes pose a number of human rights concerns.
A group of advocates argue the government should be prohibiting the misuse of restraints and over-medication, rather than regulating them.
Medication should only be used for therapeutic practices and be administered with a patient's free and informed consent, they say.
The group includes Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia (ADA) and Human Rights Watch, both of which will address the hearing in Sydney on Tuesday.
"Older people in nursing homes are at serious risk of harm if this new aged care regulation is allowed to stand as is," ADA chief executive Geoff Rowe said ahead of his appearance.
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"Australia's parliament should act urgently to ensure that everyone, including older people, is free from the threat of chemical restraint."
The head of the Australian Commission on Quality and Safety in Healthcare, Dr Robert Herkes, will also front the committee, along with Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission boss Christina Bolger.
Representatives from public advocate or guardian offices for Victoria, Queensland and the NT, will also address the hearing.
Australian Associated Press
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