News and articles

Medical practice checklist: How to keep things running smoothly over the festive shutdown

Discover an essential medical practice checklist with practical tips to help your practice run smoothly over the festive break.

Single vision

Dr Nerida McDonald’s unique vision for her practice involved making patient care and staff satisfaction her top priorities. She just needed enough physical space to achieve it.

Court rules on 17-year-old’s capacity to refuse lifesaving treatment

Although the court found a 17-year-old had capacity to make healthcare decisions, it concluded it was in the child’s best interest to order life-saving medical treatment even though the child refused it.

Avant Finance joins the AFIA Finance Industry Code of Practice

Consent in everyday practice: reflections from a GP

Consent is embedded in everyday clinical care, often in conversations that become second nature. Dr Sally Parsons draws on three consultations and Avant’s claims insights to show why consent must be specific, voluntary, ongoing and clearly documented.

Failure to advise patient of treatment options results in $215,000 damages award

Informed consent requires doctors to give a patient all the information they may need to make an informed decision about their healthcare. In this case the court found that both surgical and conservative options should have been discussed. 

Meet Fleur: our 2026 Boots to Scrubs scholarship winner

Boots to Scrubs' mission is to inspire, empower, and support rural women to become doctors. The scholarship is for is a female doctor in rural medicine.

Surgeon found to have discussed risks and provided enough information for patient to make her own decision about treatment

This case highlights the value of not only explaining relevant risks to your patient but also managing their expectations and clearly documenting the conversation.