Naked moonlight bathing: Why do intelligent patients choose mumbo-jumbo ‘cures’ over science?
Patients who don’t believe in science puzzle me. I was reminded of one recently, after Dr Pam Rachootin wrote about being tired of patients harbouring…
Opinion
Unique doctor-written opinion and analysis
‘Guess the script I’ve run out of’ — the essential GP skill that’s neglected in CPD
Mind-reading, although never formally taught in medical school, and a completely neglected topic in CPD, is an absolutely essential skill for GPs. My patient sat…
The medical board should ask two simple questions before forcing older doctors to undergo health checks
The Medical Board of Australia in trying to ‘retire’ incompetent/incapacitated senior doctors is going about it the wrong way. The board’s primary responsibility is to…
Shelve the Scope of Practice Review: My plea to Mark Butler
Dear Mr Butler, After one year and more than 1100 submissions, the long painful exercise known as the Scope of Practice Review is set to…
‘A troubled and eccentric GP with a profound vision’: The story that has stayed with me for over 50 years
There are many books that have influenced my life, starting with the Famous Five series and then the New English Bible. But during my time…
Could dedicated geriatric hospitals relieve the pressure on the hospital system?
Australia is facing a surge in hospital presentations in older adults. Between 2015–16 and 2019-20, hospitalisations among people aged 75-84 increased by an average of…
Peering at the screen I was sure I could see metastases: When the doctor becomes the patient
Most of us have spent some time on the other side of the doctor’s desk. We have sat anxiously or hopefully or awkwardly with our…
A study suggests microplastics may contribute to autism, so what are the practical implications for GPs?
“Doctor, is there anything I could have done to prevent this from happening?” Like many mothers before her, my patient was grappling with anxiety about…
Heartsink, slapstick and the human touch: Why I love my patients
According to the author Haruki Murakami, writing a novel is like ET assembling a transmitter out of junk in the garage. You need to collect…
I’m a doctor with hearing loss: Here’s my story…
How do I begin to explain how it feels to grieve the loss of something intangible? I remember that first moment in the waiting room,…
