The news today? Brain-dead pregnant woman kept on life support due to anti-abortion laws
Welcome to your bite-sized wrap-up. Below, we provide news summaries of what is going on in medicine, with links to the articles, opinions, studies and…
Australian Doctor
The latest political and medical news
State Govt will cover the cost of pharmacist consults for 20 medical conditions including diabetes and hypertension
Victorian pharmacists with extra training will manage and prescribe S4 drugs for type 2 diabetes, hypertension and allergies through taxpayer-funded consultations, Premier Jacinta Allen says.…
After 44 years as a GP, Dr Diane Faulkner-Hill needs the age pension to survive
Like most pensioners, Dr Diane Faulkner-Hill watches every cent in her account. Despite working 44 years in general practice, she rarely had money for superannuation…
Australian-first guidelines give five-point checklist for diagnosing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
The NHMRC has approved the first guidelines on diagnosing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, setting a minimum prenatal alcohol exposure threshold of two standard drinks a…
Landmark gene editing creates a medicine made for just one patient
CRISPR technology has shown strong results treating a baby with a life-threatening liver cell mutation, with scientists saying it is the first documented use of…
Elderly patients spend too long in hospital wards — what can get them out of there quickly and safely?
Maintenance patients — that is what a report on NSW Health calls elderly people who languish on wards without actually needing acute care. “On any…
Australia’s vaccination slump in five graphs
Immunisation coverage for children and adolescents is falling, with MMR and other critical vaccines frequently delivered late. The interim Annual Immunisation Coverage Report 2024, published…
Govt-run locum agency will give taxpayers ‘bang for buck’, says State Health Minister
A government-run locum agency is coming “sooner rather than later”, says the NSW Minister for Health as he grapples with a $240 million annual bill…
‘Their experience was like the bud shops of Amsterdam’: GP flooded with recreational cannabis users asking for scripts
A few years ago, Dr Nic Giummarra felt he could make a real difference in his patients’ lives for the first time. A GP on…
Medical Must-See: Swallow a fork, go under the knife
Little differential diagnostic deliberation was necessary when this 22-year-old Syrian presented to ED with epigastric pain and nausea. While playing with her children, she had…
