Backing for ban on hitting children

One of the country's leading medical bodies is supporting a GP's call for a ban on parents hitting their children about the head or with objects.

The Medical Association, which represents the nation's doctors, voted this week to support Whangarei GP Shane Reti.

His two-year study in Northland found that most people did not support parents hitting children about the head or with objects.

The GP, who is also a member of Northland District Health Board, has called on the Government to ban the practices and has received support from a number of groups, including the Maori Medical Practitioners Association and Massey University's top social scientists.

Medical Association chief executive Cameron McIver said it was "quite a significant move" for the association to support Dr Reti's call.

"We would prefer a position where there was no violence towards children, but we think the proposal by Dr Reti is a sensible first step and very achievable," he said.

The association, with 5000 member doctors, will lobby for support.

Dr Reti will write to other medical and social bodies seeking support before the proposal is formally put to the Government, which is looking at changing parental discipline laws that allow parents and guardians to use "reasonable force".

Dr Reti hopes to use his research, current evidence of harm, and international developments to push the case for legislation.

- NZPA