JUDGMENTS
Australian Capital Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal
The appellant sought leave to appeal a decision of the Tribunal. A hearing had been conducted in September 2009 and a decision against the appellant handed down in June 2012. From a date in July 2012 the appellant had 28 days to appeal. The appellant's solicitors had notified the Tribunal that an appeal was under consideration. In October 2012 the Tribunal handed down its reasons and the appellant filed an application to appeal out of time. The application and any appeal was contested by the respondent Board. In November 2012 the application for leave to appeal was heard by the Tribunal which sought written submissions from the appellant and reserved its decision on the application.
The application was dismissed. The Tribunal found that the appellant had an acceptable explanation for delay in making an application to appeal and had taken action apart from the application to extend time to appeal. However, the Tribunal found that it would cause prejudice to the respondent Board by way of costs and due to the effluxion of time and fading of memory to grant the application. Further, the Tribunal found the applicant's assertion, subsequent to the Tribunal making its decision, that a particular instrument was used, did not constitute procedural unfairness due to delay. The applicant had failed to point to any matter where delay had caused injustice, that he had an arguable case on the merits of the substantive application or that it would be fair and equitable to grant the application.
New South Wales
Fletcher v Hamilton-Gibbs & Another [2013] NSWSC 77 (14 March 2013)
The plaintiff alleged that in 1982 she obtained advice and treatment from the two General Practitioner (GP) defendants, after which she consulted a third GP then came under the care of a hospital neurosurgeon. She was diagnosed with congenital hydrocephalus consequent on aqueductal stenosis and underwent surgery. The plaintiff alleged that following surgery she suffered brain damage, dense left hemiplegia resulting in paralysis in both left limbs, anxiety and depression. She claimed that had the defendants discharged their duty of care, she would have been referred to a specialist earlier and not suffered the cerebral haemorrhage which caused brain damage and hemiplegia.
Proceedings were commenced a decade after the surgery. Between 2000 and 2010 the proceedings were delayed by the plaintiff's unsuccessful attempts to join two other defendants. The delay since 2010 was solely attributable to the plaintiff.
It was determined that the passage of time between the relevant events and the likely hearing date led to an inference of presumptive prejudice. Further, there was actual prejudice to the defendants due to the unavailability of evidence or the availability of compromised evidence, which included deaths of potential witnesses and loss of medical records.
The judge concluded that the plaintiff's delay in bringing the proceedings had rendered them seriously and unfairly burdensome, prejudicial and damaging as well as productive of serious and unjustified trouble and harassment to the defendants. She determined that the continuation of the proceedings would involve an abuse of process and ordered they be dismissed.
New South Wales. Nurses & Midwives Tribunal
Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) V Shah [2013] NSWNMT 1 (12 March 2013)
Complaint against a nurse of unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct. Where particulars and complaint conceded by the respondent prior to commencement of hearing. Consideration of appropriate protective orders. Whether suspension of registration or cancellation of registration for 12 months appropriate order.
LEGISLATION
Commonwealth
Health Insurance Amendment (Medicare funding for certain types of abortion) Bill 2013
Private Health Insurance (Benefit requirements) Amendment Rules 2013 (No. 1)
REPORTS
Australia. Department of Health & Ageing
Media releases
21 March 2013 - Record number of GPs in training - This year's record number of GPs in training will boost the number of doctors in country Australia and develop the next generation of qualified GPs.
20 March 2013 - More scholarships for aged care workers
19 March 2013 - Bulk billing rates at record highs
18 March 2013 - New centre to monitor the pulse of Australia's blood supply
15 March 2013 - New guide on borderline personality disorder
15 March 2013 - New Murri clinic delivers more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services
Private Health Insurance Circulars
PHI 15/13 Amendment - Private (same-day) Hospital Information PHI
Circular
PHI 14/13 New - Private (same-day) Hospital Information
Aged care
20 March 2013 -
CACP, EACH and EACHD community care fee (care recipient fee or
contribution) effective 20 March 2013
16 March 2013 - Indexation rates for Residential Aged Care Supplements (Accommodation and Hotel related) and Schedule of Resident Fees and Charges
Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC)
22 March 2013 - ACCC issues report on private health insurance
Australia. Private Health Insurance Ombudsman
18 Mar 2013 - Health Insurance Insider Issue 3 - Read the latest bulletin from the ombudsman. Read More
Australia. Therapeutic Goods Administration
20 March 2013 - Eco Child (Complaint No. 2011-09-019) - Decision under regulation 9 of the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990 in relation to an advertisement about the product "Amber Teething Necklace."
20 March 2013 - Review of the arrangements for the scheduling of medicines and poisons - The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing is facilitating a review of the arrangements for the scheduling of medicines and poisons in accordance with Section 52EC of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (the Act). Closing date: 29 April 2013.
19 March 2013 - Paiyouji natural slimming capsules - Paiyouji Natural Slimming Capsules pose a serious risk to your health and should not be taken.
18 March 2013 - Adept Modular Head - used in hip replacements - Health professionals and patients are advised that a review of post-market surveillance data has identified that the Adept 12/14 Modular Head has a higher than expected revision rate.
18 March 2013 - Joint reclassification advice: Kinds of medical devices - Applications to reclassify joint replacement implants from Class IIb to Class III must be made for a single kind of medical device so that the device and any of its variants can be individually identified in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency & the boards
18 March 2013 - The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has published its February communique. | Read Article
18 March 2013 - The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia releases its latest newsletter. | Read Article
21 March 2013 - Revised guidelines for use of scheduled medicines (the Guidelines), which increase care choices and improve access for patients with, or who are at high risk of developing, chronic glaucoma, were released today by the Optometry Board of Australia (the Board). | Read Article
21 March 2013 - The Pharmacy Board of Australia releases its latest communique. | Read Article
15 March 2013 - Call for nominations or expressions of interest for a health practitioner to join the Psychology Board of Australia. | Read Article
Australia. National Mental Health Commission
21 March 2013 - "Closing The Gap" targets must be addressed
20 March 2013 - 2013 Report Card themes announced
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
National Safety and Quality Standards and Accreditation - Standard 5 Frequently Asked Questions
National Safety and Quality Standards and Accreditation - Standard 7 Frequently Asked Questions
18 March 2013 - On the Radar: Issue 119 (75KB
Australian Institute of Health & Welfare
21 March 2013 - Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia 2010-11: state and territory findings
20 March 2013 - Rheumatic heart disease and acute rheumatic fever in Australia: 1996-2012. Media release
New South Wales. Ministry of Health
Media releases
21 March 2013 - Dubbo eye clinic a first
18 March 2013 - Listen out for lung cancer and save your life
15 March 2013 - Final boost for Albury cancer patient accommodation
Queensland. Department of Health
Report does not identify adverse health impacts from Coal Seam Gas (CSG) in Tara - A report into the effects of CSG on the health of Tara residents has found no clear link between CSG activities and residents' health complaints.
Reduce patient radiation risks: CT radiation dose optimisation program now available
South Australia. (SA) Department of Health & Ageing
SA Health's response to the independent Review of Non-Hospital Based Services (PDF 165KB) led by Warren McCann from the Office of Public Employment and Review has been released.
Media releases
22 March 2013 - Response to McCann review - The South Australian Government today released its response to the recommendations of the Review of Non-Hospital Based Services report. Read more...
21 March 2013 - New future secured for Community Foodies program - The Community Foodies program will continue to help people across Adelaide make healthy food and lifestyle choices. Read more...
20 March 2013 - Evaluation of changes to mental health services - SA Health will undertake a review of mental health bed capacity and demand since the implementation of the stepping up mental health reforms began. Read more...
Tasmania. Department of Health & Human Services
21 March 2013 - Kids Come First
Victoria. Department of Health
Update: Outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis extends to regional Victoria
19 March 2013 - Key new appointments for mental health in Victoria - Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge announced today that Dr Mark Oakley Browne is Victoria's new Chief Psychiatrist.
Western Australia. Department of Health
Media releases
20 March 2013 - Report shows strong performance in infection prevention and control
15 March 2013 - Final outcomes regarding the misidentification of a patient at Graylands Hospital
15 March 2013 - Vaccination urged to guard against influenza
New Zealand. Ministry of Health
22 March 2013 - The Health of Maori Adults and Children
22 March 2013 - The Health of Pacific Adults and Children
United Kingdom. Department of Health
Call to action on reducing avoidable deaths - Improvements in the fight against the 5 major causes of death, including new plans to tackle cardiovascular disease, could save 30,000 lives by 2020, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced today. Read more...
Sexual health improvement framework published - "A Framework for Sexual Health Improvement in England" sets out the government's ambitions for improving sexual health. Read more...
New technology to improve children's mental health services - Norman Lamb, Care and Support Minister announced £2million today for new handheld computers to boost children's mental health services. Read more...
World Health Organization
18 March 2013 - Urgent need for international financing to fight tuberculosis threat. Strains of tuberculosis with resistance to multiple drugs could spread widely requiring at least US$ 1.6 billion annually in international funding for treatment and prevention of the disease, according to WHO and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. Read more...
Australian Medical Association
National plan and ongoing funding needed to continue closing the gap
British Medical Association
20 March 2013 - Medical committee absolves Karabus of patient death blame. A paediatrician held in Abu Dhabi over the death of a child patient a decade ago could be freed with...
18 March 2013 - Statutory duty of candour could backfire. A statutory duty of candour on doctors to report patient safety concerns could lead to "defensive practice," doctors leaders have told peers.
18 March 2013 - Public health leader shares first-hand lessons from Hillsborough. The next Faculty of Public Health president has said being at the Hillsborough disaster was an important reminder for doctors to maintain first aid training.
18 March 2013 - GPs call for end to "bullying" of clinicians concerned about care. GPs in Scotland have called for a culture change in the National Health Scheme to make it easier for clinicians to raise concerns about patient safety.
Canadian Medical Association
18 March 2013 - Movement of physician assistants into Canadian health care still going strong
18 March 2013 - Toolbox helps MDs improve referral practices
American Medical Association (AMA)
19 March 2013 - AMA Selects 31 Bold Medical Education Proposals to Continue to the Next Phase of $10M Initiative to Transform the Way Future Physicians Are Trained. AMA Statement - The AMA has announced that 31 innovative proposals have been selected from the initial pool of 119 applicants to move forward in the AMA's $10 million Accelerating Change in Medical Education initiative.
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