🚀 go-pugleaf

CYGNET
The Network for Students with a Disability, Impairment, or Medical Condition
(Incorporated)

MEDIA RELEASE     22 FEB 98

An application for a restraining order against "Cygnet" President Mr Marcus
Anderson by Edith Cowan University Student Equity Officer (Disabilities) Ms
Marie Kormendy was dismissed by a Perth Court earlier this month (3 Feb 98).

Mr Anderson, who has a restraining order confirmed against Ms Kormendy for
harassment effective until September 1998, told the Court that Ms Kormendy  was
attempting to enlist the assistance of the Court to victimise a complaint she
claimed he had made to the Anti Corruption Commission and the Equal Opportunity
Commission about her.

Mr Anderson said he was not at liberty to discuss matters concerning the Anti
Corruption Commission. However he could say he would be making a complaint of
disability based harassment and discrimination to the Disability Discrimination
Commission.  He said he would also be pursuing the blatant abuse of
confidentiality of his medical condition and application for PhD scholarship,
both of which Ms Kormendy divulged in an effort to benefit her private
application for the Restraining Order. Ms Kormendy claimed that Mr Anderson told
her he was schizophrenic, and that "...this kind of behaviour is common". Mr
Anderson denies that he either told her, or that he is, schizophrenic. He said
that steroetypical comments about schizophenic were often imputed to people to
discredit them.

Mr Anderson said Ms Kormendy had clearly abused the trust placed in her by
virtue of her public  office by divulging the other confidential medical
information he had provided to her so as to qualify for supports as a student
with a disability, and is calling for her immediate removal from office.

Mr Anderson said "Until Ms Kormendy is removed from her position, any student
with a psychiatric disability at Edith Cowan University will be at risk of
having their confidential and highly sensitive medical details used as evidence
against them if and when any difficulties or conflicts arise".

"If the hospitals are not permitted to divulge medical information without a
Court Summons or written consent from the patient, what gives Edith Cowan
University the right to condone and assist Ms Kormendy in this outrageous abuse
of her office ?".

The Cygnet Home page is
    http://www.Geocities.com/CapitolHill/1235/

Cygnet has started a public discussion forum on this issue at
    http://wa.apana.org.au/~marcus/disc1_frm.htm
Postings to this (moderated) forum will be retained indefinitely.


MARCUS ANDERSON
(President)
22 Feb 1998