A major spat has erupted between the Australian Medical Association and the West Australian mental health minister over legislative changes.
The AMA has raised concerns about changes to the state's mental health laws, saying doctors have not been adequately trained to deal with them, and urging the state government to delay their implementation next week.
But Helen Morton dismissed those concerns on Friday, accusing the AMA of not liking the intent of the reforms and being "stuck in the past".
AMA president Michael Gannon said the minister's comments were "wrong, misguided, ill-advised and extremely concerning".
Dr Gannon said the association had only voiced its concerns publicly out of sheer frustration.
"It has become progressively clear that the hard work has not been done to ensure that medical professionals are aware either of the new legislation or of their changed responsibilities," Dr Gannon said.
"To have a new act without all doctors being aware of its implications and requirements is to be asking for trouble."
Some doctors didn't even know the changes were set to come in on November 30, he said.
Dr Gannon advised Ms Morton in a September letter that AMA members were exceedingly anxious about the looming implementation date.
But Ms Morton said she had received the nod from several WA medical representatives, with the only criticisms coming from the AMA.
"It seems to be that everybody but the AMA are ready to roll with this," she said.
Ms Morton says the changes will give mental health patients and their families greater involvement in decisions about how they are treated.
