Detained ... the asylum seeker and refugee processing camp on the island of Nauru. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“Some of the children have spent half their lives in detention, which is inhumane and totally unacceptable,” says AMA president Professor Brian Owler.

“These children are suffering extreme physical and mental health issues, including severe anxiety and depression.”

The AMA today released its revised position statement on the health care of asylum seekers, updated from 2011.

It says the latest statistics show that as on November 30, 104 children were in immigration detention facilities on the mainland, 70 were on Nauru, and 331 in community detention.

The AMA also is concerned about the Australian Border Force Act, noting doctors and whistleblowers face the possibility of two years in jail for leaking details about offshore detention facilities.

The AMA have made the following recommendations:

*Set a maximum time that can be spent in detention

*An unaccompanied child should never be in detention

*An accompanied child should be detained for no more than one month

*Health, language, cultural and religious needs must be met

*Doctors should not be obliged to artificially feed a hunger striker

*Families should be prioritised for processing