No images? Click here President's MessageCommunication is key in medicine. It’s critical in my ED and in every doctor-patient interaction but also frequently at the centre of complaints we receive at the Medical Council. The Australian Medical Association’s (AMA) Dr Charlotte Hespe highlights in her article the importance of communication, particularly in a time where we are more reliant on non-face-to-face consults, such as telehealth, to ensure a thorough consultation. Similarly, if we can continue to read our patients’ cues and communicate well with them, then as a profession we will continue to be highly respected, trusted and responsive to the needs of our patients. Warning: Fentanyl misuseThe NSW Ministry of Health has issued a warning to NSW doctors about the risks associated with fentanyl patch misuse by patients. Meet our new President - Dr John SammutWhen Dr John Sammut joined the then NSW Medical Board as a health program assessor he had no ambition to become President. However, more than a decade later and having undertaken a broad spectrum of roles at the Council, Dr Sammut commenced his position as President on 1 July 2020. We spoke with him about his career and his vision for the Council as its President. Know the rulesThe Council is seeing doctors come to its attention as a result of complaints about inappropriate prescribing and/or failure to follow prescribing rules. Make sure you know the rules so you don’t risk a complaint being made about you. Ensure you are equipped to write that script In NSW, if a patient is considered to be drug dependent, even if a legitimate pain condition exists, the practitioner must apply for an authority from NSW Ministry of Health prior to prescribing for an individual patient under the requirements of the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act. Application forms are available from the NSW Health website. Circumstances change, good practice remains the sameThe AMA’s Dr Charlotte Hespe reiterates the importance of communication despite technological challenges, and encourages doctors to examine the cues available to them to ensure a thorough and positive consultation. How does Council address impairment in practitioners?How does the Council address an impairment in doctors? Sometimes the Council receives a complaint or notification about a doctor which indicates there may be a risk that the doctor is impaired in a way that could impact their capacity to practise. We explain the role of a Council appointed practitioner (CAP) assessment when impairment is considered a potential concern. Case Study: Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs (PIEDs)Health Care Complaints Commission v Meneghetti [2020] NSWCATOD 39 Background: Dr Meneghetti was introduced to sports scientist, Mr Stephen Dank, who subsequently came to work in her practice in 2014. Shortly after Mr Dank commenced working at the practice, Dr Meneghetti commenced prescribing various peptide hormones, human growth hormones and other PIEDs to both Mr Dank and patients referred by Mr Dank. The treatment of eight of those patients was the subject of this complaint. Dr Meneghetti prescribed drugs that are both registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, and those that have never been registered. Outcome: The NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) found all thirteen complaints proven, finding that Dr Meneghetti did not exercise any independent judgement and that she had effectively delegated her role as a doctor to Mr Dank. On 16 April 2020, the Tribunal cancelled Dr Meneghetti’s registration as a medical practitioner. News bitesMeet our new Council membersThree new Council members have joined the Medical Council as of 1 July 2020. We welcome Dr Saretta Lee, nominee of the Royal Australian and NZ College of Psychiatrists, and lay members Prof Isabel Karpin and Robert Lagaida PSM. You can find the full list of our current Council members here.
Prescription opioid changesChanges to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listings for opioid medicines have come into effect from 1 June 2020. The changes include amendments to existing restriction requirements and arrangements for increased quantities and repeats. You can find out more on these changes by visiting the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website.
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