A second remote Northern Territory Aboriginal health group has won the right to stop the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) from accessing its records.
In May this year, the ACC ordered the clinic to hand over the medical records of any child associated with sexually transmitted illnesses, pregnancies, or sexual and physical abuse
It made the order as part of its investigation into the under-reporting of child abuse.
The clinic argued it would break the trust between doctors and patients and discourage Aboriginal people from seeking treatment, particularly young mothers.
Today Justice John Reeves ruled in the clinic’s favour, saying the ACC had failed to put the best interests of the children first.
Last month, another remote clinic won a similar case to protect the records of eight teenage girls who had received contraceptive treatment.