The truth about violent mental health patients that no-one wants to hear
Of late we have been reading more and more about violent crime linked to alleged failings of the mental health system, but little about the…
Medical Observer
Unique doctor-written opinion and analysis
Press ‘one’ for healthcare: Will vending machines take over as GPs brace for extinction?
For too long, vending machines have languished in dark corridors, dispensing soft drinks and fat-filled snacks, contributing to the obesity epidemic. In a revolutionary program,…
We need a new strategy to reverse falling vaccination rates in Australia
Child vaccination is one of the most cost-effective health interventions. It accounts for 40% of the global reduction in infant deaths since 1974 and has…
Rent-a-quack: The Lucy Letby case has me reflecting on our own medical expert issues
In a recent Medical Observer opinion piece on the Lucy Letby case, Professor Amel Alghrani argued that relying on expert doctors in criminal medical cases could…
Fellowship exams are rubbish — all they do is push brilliant doctors away from medicine
“In examinations, the foolish ask questions that the wise cannot answer.” — Oscar Wilde I don’t believe we need exams. × Welcome to AusDoc. Enabling…
Has a patient asked you to ‘bend the rules’? Here’s some guidance on unreasonable requests
“Jake seemed quite distressed during the appointment. I provided him with referrals, as I was worried about the knee mass and did not want to…
If junior doctors are ‘marshmallows’, what kind of lollies are the rest of us?
Have you heard about the leaked email? Oops! A medical administration staff member laments that current junior medical staff are “clinical marshmallows” for objecting to…
Gender fluidity is this generation’s gift to sexuality: My take as the local gender GP
Thirteen years ago, when I was a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed GP registrar, I saw for the first time a patient who declared at the start of…
We are not so soft: The hard realities of being a ‘marshmallow’ doctor
There has been recent interest in junior doctor wellbeing following derogatory comments made by administration staff at Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital. Many of my friends…
Many GPs try to avoid running into patients outside of work — I’m the opposite
I’ve just learned an amazing strategy for dealing with the desires of a five-year-old child when out shopping. If he spies something that he wants,…
