Insights Sectors: Health

Pseudoephedrine (‘PSE’) is indicated for the relief of congestion associated with conditions such as rhinitis, sinusitis and the common cold.[1] However, in recent decades, it has been targeted for non-therapeutic purposes, such as for the manufacture of illicit drugs. Meridian Lawyers has recently assisted pharmacists to respond to notifications that were referred to the Australian […]

An experienced and well-respected NSW General Practitioner with an otherwise unblemished record has faced disciplinary proceedings brought by the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) before the Civil and Administrative Tribunal of New South Wales (the Tribunal).[1] While the Tribunal found that Dr Quan’s conduct was improper and unethical, the Tribunal did not uphold a finding […]

Hopes of helpful review of the current interpretation of the words “competent professional practice” as they appear in section 5O of the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) (the Act) were dashed, as special leave to appeal was denied by the High Court of Australia (HCA) from a NSW Court of Appeal (NSWCA) medical malpractice case.[1] […]

A Perth Cardiologist has recently been found to have engaged in professional misconduct by the Western Australian Administrative Tribunal. [1] The Medical Board of Australia (the Board) made out five of six allegations against Dr Woollard. Key Takeaways The case provides a reminder of the meaning of unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct under the […]

New resources provided by AHPRA and National Boards aim to help health practitioners understand and comply with their legal and professional obligations under the National Law. Understanding and meeting legal obligations with regard to advertising and avoiding complaints to regulators can be a daunting task for health practitioners. The national regulator, AHPRA, has released a […]

In response to criticism, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Medical Board of Australia (The Board) have revised the policy of publishing links to all tribunal decisions on the National Register.  The Board has removed links to tribunal decisions, but only those in which there was no adverse finding regarding the doctor. […]

This article was originally published as a PDL Practice Alert. It was written by Scott Ames, Principal and PDL Professional Officers, John Guy and Gary West. A recent inquest into the death of an elderly patient in Victoria [1] has put a spotlight on a pharmacist’s duty to exercise independent judgement when dispensing medication.   Background On 29 […]

Update published 29 August 2018: Board removes links to past disciplinary decisions – but not all of them Australian medical practitioners are expressing understandable concern about the Medical Board of Australia’s (MBA) recent decision to display links to published disciplinary decisions and court rulings on individual practitioner listings on the National Register (Register). The MBA’s decision […]

The Coroners Court of Victoria has called for the development of a set of standards specifically setting out systems for the communication of imaging results, and defining the roles and responsibilities of diagnostician and referring doctors with respect to the same. The recommendations were made following an inquest into the death of Mr Mettaloka Halwala, […]

A recent decision by the NSW Court of Appeal has given rise to hopes that the current interpretation of the words “competent professional practice” as they appear in section 5O of the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) (the Act) may soon be revised. Two members of the judiciary commented critically on the standing interpretation of […]

The Victorian Department of Health has confirmed that the implementation of the ‘SafeScript’ real-time prescription monitoring system will begin later this year. The initial roll-out is set to take place in the Western Victoria Primary Health Network catchment area before it is extended to the remainder of the State in 2019. ‘SafeScript’ is intended to […]