When my patient made an anti-Semitic slur I stayed silent – until now
On my early morning walk, I found myself mulling over an incident that occurred many years ago and that obviously still disturbs me. A patient…
Tag: Mental health
Raise level C rebate to $96 and fund annual child health checks: RACGP
The RACGP wants a 20% increase to Medicare rebates for level C, level D and mental health consults, saying the current rebate structure undermines chronic…
Uncovering the inner world of your patient’s self-hate
“You need to lose weight,” the doctor says. The patient looks down and feels a flush of shame fill her face. “I know.” “Losing weight…
TGA ‘closely monitoring’ suicide and depression risk with asthma drug
The TGA is “closely monitoring” reports of suicide, sleep disturbances and other potential adverse neuropsychiatric events in children prescribed the asthma medication montelukast. Although prescribers…
Fluoxetine shortage: TGA advises switching from dispersible tablets to capsules
The TGA has urged doctors to switch patients using fluoxetine 20mg dispersible tablets to 20mg capsules instead amid a shortage triggered by manufacturing issues. Drug…
Anxiety in kids: Aussie-first guidelines warn against meds as first-line therapy
Australian-first clinical guidelines for treating anxiety in children recommend starting with an SSRI over other medications if drug therapy is warranted but warn against pharmacotherapy…
‘Doctors fear losing what they love’: Dr Tasha Port’s suicide shows medicine’s culture of silence lingers
Dr Tasha Port was preparing to submit her application for the paediatrician training program when she took her own life in June 2020. Medicine had…
The new $191 level E consult is ‘no quick fix’ for complex care, says top GP
The RACGP and AMA finally won their battle for a level E consultation item on Medicare this year after many years of fighting. Alongside higher…
Patients harbouring ‘unrealistic expectations’ for ADHD diagnoses, doctors warn
Doctors are facing a deluge of patients requesting ADHD diagnoses and treatments after watching videos on TikTok and other social media platforms, a leading psychiatrist…
‘No-one had the right to lay a hand on him’: Duty of care and involuntary detention
Deciding whether a patient needs to be detained and treated involuntarily is a common and sometimes challenging decision emergency doctors face. A recent case from…
