Pervasive refusal syndrome in child asylum seekers on Nauru

Louise Newman; Beth O’Connor; Vernon Reynolds; George Newhouse

doi:10.1177/1039856220956251

Pervasive refusal syndrome in child asylum seekers on Nauru

Louise Newman^*, Beth O’Connor, Vernon Reynolds, George Newhouse

^*Corresponding author for this work

Macquarie Law School

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: Between 2013 and 2019, an estimated 200 children seeking asylum in Australia were detained on the island of Nauru. In 2018, 15 of these children developed the rare and life-threatening pervasive refusal syndrome (PRS). This paper describes the PRS case cluster, the complexities faced by clinicians managing these cases, and the lessons that can be learned from this outbreak.

Conclusions: The emergence of PRS on Nauru highlighted the risks of long-term detention of children in settings that are unable to meet their physical and psycho-social needs. The case cluster also underscored (a) the difficulties faced by doctors working in conditions where their medical and legal obligations may be in direct conflict, and (b) the role of clinicians in patient advocacy.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	585-588
Number of pages	4
Journal	Australasian Psychiatry
Volume	28
Issue number	5
Early online date	10 Sept 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1039856220956251
Publication status	Published - Oct 2020

Keywords

asylum seekers
immigration detention
pervasive refusal syndrome

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10.1177/1039856220956251

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abstract = "Objectives: Between 2013 and 2019, an estimated 200 children seeking asylum in Australia were detained on the island of Nauru. In 2018, 15 of these children developed the rare and life-threatening pervasive refusal syndrome (PRS). This paper describes the PRS case cluster, the complexities faced by clinicians managing these cases, and the lessons that can be learned from this outbreak. Conclusions: The emergence of PRS on Nauru highlighted the risks of long-term detention of children in settings that are unable to meet their physical and psycho-social needs. The case cluster also underscored (a) the difficulties faced by doctors working in conditions where their medical and legal obligations may be in direct conflict, and (b) the role of clinicians in patient advocacy.",

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Pervasive refusal syndrome in child asylum seekers on Nauru

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Keywords

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