Jimi Hendrix, jail and life as a ’70s doctor: AusDoc interviews Bob Brown
In September 1970, a 25-year-old Dr Bob Brown met a patient he would never forget. “It was around 8am, and he was brought up on a trolley…
Australian Doctor
The latest political and medical news
Mark Butler will bring back private health cover for alternative medicine ‘as soon as possible’
The Federal Government has agreed to lift the ban on private health insurers funding naturopathy, yoga, Western herbal medicine and tai chi, says the Minister…
Influenza surges early with 58,000 cases so far this year
A GP expert says this year’s early influenza surge is unsurprising but disappointing as it can be explained partly by Australia’s low vaccination rates. More…
Arbitration hearing for psychiatrists pushed back to June
Psychiatrists will wait another two months at least to see an end to their pay and conditions dispute with the NSW Government. Arbitration between the psychiatrists and…
Dr John Dique: the ‘uncompromising racist’ who made Australia’s first dialysis machine
MECHANICAL KIDNEY IS A BOON IN ACCIDENTS That was the 1954 headline in the newspaper Truth that announced the start of dialysis in Australia. ×…
Supreme Court judgement limits boards’ powers to pause investigations, says AHPRA’s top lawyer
Health practitioner boards have limited powers to delay decisions indefinitely after receiving a finalised investigation report, based on a recent case, says AHPRA’s general counsel.…
One of Canberra’s last surviving bulk-billing clinics enters administration
A GP practice that universally bulk-billed patients has entered voluntary administration after struggling to fill GP vacancies or cover its costs. The Interchange Health Co-operative…
Recreational use of antidiarrhoea drug leading to severe cardiotoxicity, doctors warn
Clinical toxicologists are warning that misuse of the antidiarrhoeal loperamide is leading to prolonged ECG intervals in patients with opioid use disorder. Some patients are…
Medical Must-See: An ascending aortic aneurysm the size of a grapefruit
A giant ascending aortic aneurysm was the unusual cause of this 72-year-old’s hoarse voice and intermittent chest pain. Ultimately, doctors measured the aneurysm at 12.5cm…
‘Am I kidding myself?’: Aussie doctor to move to Belgium and become a philosopher
Dr Ken Barns had a long-term plan to stop working as a doctor when he hit 50. It is finally happening, and he is ready…
