Inaccurate and misogynistic: Why we need to make the term ‘hysterectomy’ history
Tonsillectomy, appendectomy, lumpectomy make sense. The suffix ‘ectomy‘ denotes surgical removal of the named body part, so these terms give a clear idea of what…
Medical Observer
Unique doctor-written opinion and analysis
Is hospital admission really the gold standard for mental health patients presenting to ED?
Sometimes, clusters of thoughts or issues occur together, leading to greater insights. It was not long after I had written my AusDoc article on the…
Reality check: GPs are now regarded as expensive script vending machines
The patient sits down at the start of their 15-minute appointment and pulls out their list. My face betrays the surge of anticipatory anxiety inspired…
I’d be rich if I had a dollar for every unwanted comment about my weight
Something I’ve struggled with my whole life is my weight. Not because I’m unhappy with my body, but because others seem to be. Let me…
From lipid rage to toilet rapture: A tale of two patient letters
The highs and lows of being a patient are sometimes communicated to the GP by an appreciative letter, and sometimes by one of searing complaint.…
What a dying patient’s handshake taught me about life and love
I was working in my oncology ward as usual when I received a call from the ICU to evaluate a patient. The patient was a…
We have ways of tracking patient deterioration. So why aren’t we using them to save lives?
I like to look back at my career — both the successes and the failures. Although I am now non-practising, I believe I have insight…
I watched my mother die a slow death: VAD laws need to change
I have just spoken the eulogy for my mother, who died aged 99.333 years of age. She was a tough old bird, having knocked on…
No, Lou, it was not a perfect day… it was a seriously crappy day
What is the opposite of the Lou Reed song, Perfect Day? Did he write a little number called One Particularly Crappy Day? Or the follow-up hit, One…
Australia is being menaced by managed care: We’d be foolish to ignore the warning signs
They say everything is bigger in America — cars, coffee cups, and, as I recently saw firsthand, corporate control over healthcare. The US health system…
