The Advertising compliance and enforcement strategy for the National Scheme explains how National Boards and AHPRA will manage advertising complaints and compliance, including the regulatory powers available to deal with breaches of the National Law. Under the...
healthcare professionals
GP Suspended for Slapping a Child’s Face during Consulation
The child and his mother had attended for an appointment so that the GP might try to help the child swallow his ADHD medication. The GP attempted to teach the child how to swallow the medication over a period of about 50 minutes. The child refused and fidgeted in his...
New Privacy Act Data Breach Obligations Update
Eligible Data Breaches The Act sets up a scheme for notification of ‘eligible data breaches’. An eligible data breach happens if: there is unauthorised access to, unauthorised disclosure of, or loss of, personal information held by an entity; and the access,...
Surgeon reprimanded and fined for permitting doctor not registered in Australia to perform operation
In a recent decision of the Professional Standards Committee Inquiry, a colorectal surgeon, Professor Morris, was found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct for knowingly enabling an overseas based doctor, Dr Sugarbaker, who was not registered under the...
Chiropractor convicted of unlawful advertising
A recent case in which a chiropractor was convicted of false advertising for claiming to be able to prevent, treat and cure cancer serves as a reminder for practitioners to make sure they properly understand their obligations and follow the National Boards’ guidelines...
What is the scope of cancellation of registration when a practitioner is registered in more than one health profession?
The HCCC sought deregistration of the practitioner as both a midwife and as a nurse. It argued that the findings concerning the practitioner's conduct as a midwife were equally applicable to her knowledge and skills in the practice of nursing. The Tribunal noted that...
When a doctor can disclose information in the public interest
The revised guidance provides useful clarification on when doctors can disclose information in the public interest to protect individuals or society from risks of serious harm. The benefits to an individual or to society of the disclosure must outweigh both the...
New WA Medicine and Poisons Regulations
A key aim of the regulations is to control the potential for the misuse of hard drugs by implementing a system to identify and regulate ‘doctor shopping’. Health Minister John Day says the legislation “establishes the legal framework for the transfer of information...
Doctor’s obligations in relation to medical reports and certificates
Background facts On 2 March 2015, the practitioner was consulted for a medical assessment regarding his suitability to continue to hold, possess and/or use a firearms licence. At this attendance, the patient provided the practitioner with a letter from the Queensland...
Medical practitioner consuming alcohol while on call
It was alleged that the practitioner had attended a social function, had consumed an amount of alcohol and was affected, and then, whilst on call, attended on a pregnant patient in a hospital. It was also alleged that he conducted himself in an inappropriate manner...