Insights Sectors: Health

Meridian Lawyers regularly assists health practitioners who have been the subject of notification to statutory health authorities such as AHPRA, HCCC and the OHO. Our role is to help these practitioners understand, respond to and navigate the complaints process.  Unfortunately, we regularly hear clients express distress that they are the subject of complaint. Many suffer […]

In what circumstances should a gift from a patient be politely declined? Doctors are entrusted with acting in their patients’ best interests. They work hard to treat their patients’ sicknesses and keep them healthy. As a result of doctors’ care, their long-term patients often display a profound sense of gratitude; a more emotional feeling than […]

Annualised Salary –  as part of the review of all modern awards the Fair Work Commission has determined that the annualised salary clause, contained in awards, should be varied to provide that employers must keep records of all hours worked (start and finishing times) by employees covered by annual salary arrangements and must review the […]

Do you own a pharmacy through a corporate entity such as a proprietary company? Are there shareholders who hold a minority interest? As a majority shareholder and director, you need to be aware of your duties to the company in the conduct of your business. Pharmacy businesses are often owned by individuals and partnerships, but […]

Pharmacy data is a valuable resource and pharmacy owners are increasingly being asked to permit third parties to access their pharmacy computer systems for a range of purposes. Pharmacy owners need to be extremely cautious about permitting third parties to access their pharmacy computer systems and before doing so should ensure that they question and […]

Pharmacists wishing to lodge applications for Australian Community Pharmacy Authority (ACPA) approval for the establishment of a new PBS approved pharmacy or relocation of a PBS approval under the Pharmacy Location Rules are now required to submit the application by uploading the application form and supporting documents through the Health Data Portal. Applicants were previously […]

In conjunction with 13 professional medical Colleges, Associations and Societies, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has released a Guide ‘Informed Financial Consent: A Collaboration Between Doctors and Patients. Assisting patients to understand their healthcare and its costs.’ (IFC Guide) to help patients understand their medical costs and fees. The IFC Guide was launched in late July […]

Pharmacists are expected to have a contemporary knowledge of the drugs that are subject to abuse or misuse, both generally and in their own localities. Steroids and hormone therapies are one of many groups of medications that are the subject of abuse/misuse. Many individuals source anabolic steroids illicitly from coaches, friends, teammates, gym employees, relatives […]

Patients are increasingly using social media to post anonymous reviews and ratings about medical services they have received, both good and bad. Thankfully, most are positive. However, a critical review can be distressing for the practitioner and has the potential to damage reputation despite a bad review being just a scintilla of evidence as to […]

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 (Vic) (the Act) comes into operation on 19 June 2019, making Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD)[1] legal in Victoria. When the legislation comes into effect in June, Victorian registered medical practitioners need to be aware of their role in the application of the Act. For medical practitioners who wish to […]

SafeScript provides Victorian prescribers and pharmacists access to the prescription history of their patients for high-risk medicines. SafeScript information can alert the prescriber and dispenser to patients at risk of harm or overdose associated with high risk medicines, and assist with deciding whether to prescribe or dispense the high-risk medicine. SafeScript will be implemented across […]