Insights Sectors: Health

Jul 1, 2022

INSIGHT: The importance of health practitioners’ compliance with public health policies and directions

Brief Context In Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia v Bergin [2022] VR 4, a registered nurse (Practitioner) was found to have engaged in professional misconduct due to her failure to remain in isolation while awaiting the outcome of a COVID-19 test. Background The Practitioner was employed at a residential aged care facility. By virtue […]

Jun 1, 2022

INSIGHT: Complex Compounding – How does a pharmacist prove competency?

The focus of this article is to explore how an individual pharmacist can create and maintain the documentation which may assist them in proving to the Pharmacy Board of Australia (Board) that they have met the training requirements for complex compounding. What is compounding? Drug compounding is the combining of individual ingredients in the exact […]

Mar 10, 2022

INSIGHT: A cautionary note to all health practitioners: don’t be caught out by section 130 of the National Law!

With increasing frequency in recent times, Meridian Lawyers is acting for registered health practitioners who have been the subject of investigation and/or disciplinary action for failure to comply with their obligation to notify their National Board of a ‘relevant event’. This article also serves to remind health practitioners and students[1] of their obligations to notify, […]

Dec 14, 2021

INSIGHT: NCAT overturned Medical Council’s decision to suspend medical student’s licence

Case: Hyland v Medical Council of New South Wales [2021] NSWCATOD 199 The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (“the Tribunal”) set aside the Medical Council of New South Wales’ (“the Council”) decision to suspend Mr Hyland’s registration as a medical student. Background The Council considered that it was appropriate to suspend Mr Hyland’s registration “in […]

Jul 30, 2021

INSIGHT: Pharmacists: are you ready for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout?

A refresher on the key responsibilities for pharmacists who conduct vaccinations The Australian Federal Government has announced that pharmacists will play a key role in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout strategy. Phases 2 and 3 of the vaccine rollout involve administering the vaccine in multiple locations, including community pharmacies.  Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout commenced […]

Jul 16, 2021

INSIGHT: ACCC alleges SmileDirectClub misled consumers regarding health insurance reimbursements for clear teeth aligners

On 12 July 2021, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) instituted proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against SmileDirectClub Aus Pty Ltd and its US parent company, SmileDirectClub LLC (SmileDirectClub), alleging they had breached the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The ACCC claims that between May 2019 and October 2020, SmileDirectClub breached section 18 […]

Jun 24, 2021

INSIGHT: High court affirms parents can consent to puberty blockers on behalf of their children

UK: Winding back Bell v Tavistock[i]; High Court affirms that parents can consent to puberty blockers on behalf of their children, which are not (of themselves) part of any “special category” of treatment requiring Court approval. Abstract In AB v CD & Ors[2], the UK High Court effectively reversed the practical effects of Bell (which […]

Jun 17, 2021

INSIGHT: Real time prescription monitoring: assisting practitioners to make better informed prescribing decisions

Real Time Prescription Monitoring (RTPM) is a national digital health system which was established by the Commonwealth Government. Each state and territory will implement their own local version of the RTPM system by their respective state and territory health instrumentalities. There will be core features and functionality to enable national consistency. The need for such […]

Jun 8, 2021

INSIGHT: The collective bargaining class exemption for small businesses is now in effect

We published an article outlining the collective bargaining class exemption for small to medium businesses approved by the ACCC earlier this year. This exemption came into effect on 3 June 2021 and allows eligible small and medium businesses to engage in collective bargaining with their suppliers without being in breach of the Competition and Consumer […]

May 21, 2021

INSIGHT: Pitfalls of promoting health services on social media

Recently, we published an article outlining the dos and don’ts of COVID-19 vaccine promotion. Our Insight summarises how vaccine providers and other parties can lawfully provide information about and promote COVID-19 vaccines. The promotion of vaccines and health services generally, across a variety of communication mediums, is regulated by advertising laws. Social media in particular, […]

May 17, 2021

INSIGHT: Extended powers of HCC include investigating complaints incidental to the provision of health services

The facts BG, a myotherapist and a ‘general health service provider’ for the purposes of the Health Complaints Act 2016 (Vic) (the Act), engaged in a series of messages with (DB) on Instagram and Snapchat. DB was studying a Diploma of Remedial Massage. It was apparent from BG’s Instagram profile he was a myotherapist. The […]

1 2 3 4 5 18