My Blog
Revalidation of Australian physicians – a critical review
A critical review of the Medical Board of Australia’s proposals for revalidation. For these remarks I have reviewed comments about revalidation from the Medical Observer and from the Medical Board of Australia’s press releases and information on its website. It seems if you are male, or 'old', or...
New developments in Alzheimer’s disease research
The following article is from my senior colleague, A/Prof Michael Woodward, geriatrician at the Austin Medical Centre, Heidelberg Victoria. I wish to thank Michael for allowing me to post it on my website. Springfield Advances in Alzheimer’s Treatment conference Athens, March 2016 Conference...
New financial transparency arrangements between doctors and drug companies
Greater transparency for financial arrangements between pharmaceutical companies and doctors In early 2015 the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) authorized a new Code of Conduct for Medicines Australia (representing the larger drug companies in Australia but not generic...
New developments in Alzheimer’s disease: AD/PD 2015
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE/PARKINSON’S DISEASE 2015 12TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE NICE, FRANCE, 18–22 MARCH 2015 I was fortunate to attend this conference that is held every second year in one of the European cities on progress in research concerning Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. This...
Emotional and behavioural complications of dementia
See PowerPoint presentation attached. Emotional and behavioural complications of dementia
Ageism and age discrimination – against doctors
Ageism and Age Discrimination - Against Doctors! Ageism is stereotyping and discriminating against individuals or groups on the basis of their age. Three elements make up ageism: prejudice against older people; discrimination against older people; and practices and policies that perpetuate...
Oscar Pistorius trial – update observations – again
In the next twist to this case the Appeals Court judge recently determined (December 2015) that Oscar Pistorius committed murder. This decision is now being appealed by the Pistorius legal team to the highest court in South Africa - the Constitutional Court. The hearing begins in early 2016. Not...
Should we have an Australian ‘Suicide Toll’?
Should we have an Australian 'Suicide Toll'? Death from suicide is too common in Australia. It ranks alongside motor vehicle accidents as a cause of mortality, especially among younger Australians. Despite that, no national or regional 'suicide tolls' are published. Economic circumstances,...
Specialist training opportunities for the new huge wave of medical graduates from Australian medical schools
The soon to arrive huge wave of medical graduates from all the new medical schools and the increasing class sizes in established medical schools poses major problems. If these young doctors (well mostly young) are to avoid years and years of sitting around in hospital medical officer positions (or...
The Future of Psychiatry and Mental Health Services
The Future of Psychiatry and Mental Health Services A video copy of this talk is presented below: My talk can only be a series of remarks about the current state of some aspects of mental health services and the field of psychiatry and where I think the path of these important institutions will...