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05 March 2025
Has a patient asked you to ‘bend the rules’? Here’s some guidance on unreasonable requests
Patient pressure can sometimes be difficult to withstand, particularly when there is a clinical need. How the law can help and tips to navigate these ethical dilemmas.
04 March 2025
Thriving at medical school: top tips
Discover study secrets, time management tricks, and insider insights for medical school success.
03 March 2025
Unauthorised access to 35 patients’ records sees trainee doctor suspended
A trainee doctor was suspended after admitting to unauthorised and unjustified access to 35 patients’ medical records on 97 occasions and disclosing information from those records. The doctor was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder. While accepting that mental illness played a role, the tribunal concluded the conduct was professional misconduct.
03 March 2025
Optometrist’s failure to arrange secure storage and transfer of records amounts to professional misconduct
An optometrist’s failure to store and enable access to patient records after their business closed reflected a total disregard for their professional obligation to ensure continuity of care, according to the tribunal. They had denied responsibility and demonstrated a complete lack of insight into the seriousness or implications of their conduct. Their conduct constituted professional misconduct and led to cancellation of their registration.
03 March 2025
Viewing patient records without clinical justification sees nurse’s registration suspended
A newly qualified nurse discovered that employers and tribunals take unauthorised access of clinical records very seriously. The nurse was suspended over accessing the records of multiple patients at the clinic where they worked, breaching both their employment contract and professional obligations.
03 March 2025
Bulk Billing and Payroll Tax Liability for Practices in Victoria – A Breakdown of the New Changes to Commence on 1 July 2025
Bulk Billing and Payroll Tax Liability for Practices in Victoria – A Breakdown of the New Changes to Commence on 1 July 2025
26 February 2025
Privacy Commissioner rules on psychiatrist’s refusal to provide patient access to personal information
The Australian Privacy Commissioner confirmed a patient’s right to access their personal information is not absolute. A doctor may refuse access if they reasonably believe it could cause serious harm to the patient or someone else’s life, health or safety. However, they must consider alternative options to grant at least partial access, and give reasons explaining any decision to refuse access.
26 February 2025
Psychiatrist ordered to repay $100,000 in Medicare billings after records found inadequate
A psychiatrist’s consultation records were so poor, they breached professional standards and Medicare record-keeping obligations. There were no records for many consultations. Records that did exist either failed to justify services billed or prescriptions issued, or would not allow another provider to assume patient care. The doctor was ordered to repay Medicare benefits and banned from billing certain item numbers for one year.