Read the latest from the Medical Council of NSW
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President's message
We know that as medical practitioners, you are dedicated to upholding an incredibly high standard of care. We also know that even a single complaint can be a stressful and difficult experience.
While only a small number of practitioners receive a complaint, we've found that a lack of familiarity with specific guidelines or the Code of Conduct can be a key reason why.
In fact, many practitioners who receive a complaint are remorseful and take the opportunity to update their knowledge, which shows a commitment to continuous improvement and learning.
- prescribing to family and friends -we explain the possible repercussions and the professional and ethical boundaries that apply
- notifying an event - we clarify your legal and professional obligations
- consent for AI scribe use - we explore the intricacies of patient consent amid new technologies.
In this edition we also share our latest podcast, which features a powerful story from an Aboriginal Australian who shares her experiences navigating a health system shaped by institutional racism.
We also feature the superb contributions from our 2025 medical students essay prize winners and more.
Dr Liz Tompsett
President
Medical Council of NSW
Correction
In our July edition we said that medical practitioners needed to have 50 hours of CPD before the registration renewal date of 30 September 2025. This is incorrect, your CPD hours are spread across the calendar year. We apologise for this error.
Beyond cultural safety: institutional racism in health
In this podcast episode, proud Wiradjuri woman Renee Thomson (pictured above right) sits down with our host Penelope Elix. Renee has experience in policy, government and strategy, and an important story to share about her personal experience of institutional racism in the NSW health system.
In this moving podcast, Renee shares her personal experience with the health system and the impact of institutional racism on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. “When she said, ‘take him to the hospital’, there was this unshakable pit in my stomach that I just thought ‘I don’t want to take him’.”
Why AI scribes still need human oversight
No matter how you feel about it, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is creeping into all aspects of our lives. If you are using — or thinking about using — an AI scribe, there are several things to consider. This article breaks down some of the known and emerging concerns.
No such thing as a simple favour: why self-prescribing and treating loved ones is a bad idea
Writing a prescription for a friend or family member may seem harmless, but the possible repercussions might make you think twice.
Giving notice of ‘certain events’: understand your obligations
All medical practitioners should be familiar with their obligations to notify Ahpra about ‘certain events’. This includes the timeframe for reporting and what events you should report.
Medical student essayists tackle issue of public trust
Considered thinking and notable insights were a hallmark of the many entries to the 2025 Medical Council of NSW Essay Competition.
Our judging panel was deeply impressed by the unique perspectives this year’s students brought to the table. Each year, the Council sponsors a reflective essay prize for medical students studying at a NSW medical school and this year, every school was represented.
We asked students to reflect on how their personal and professional behaviours might impact public trust in the healthcare system.
Congratulations go to Samin Haque (Western Sydney University) who won first prize for his written essay The weight of ‘I don’t know’ and runner up Melissa Turner (University of Sydney), for her essay Trust me, I used to sell shampoo.
Read these thoughtful essays from our next generation of medical leaders.
News bites
ATO and Ahpra send warning about extracting super early
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) have joined forces to stamp out business models and inappropriate practices that seek to use superannuation to pay for overly expensive or unnecessary medical treatments.
We care what you think
The Medical Council newsletter aims to keep you updated about your regulatory responsibilities as a NSW medical practitioner as well as provide resources to support you to provide safe, professional care to your patients.
To help us improve our service to you, we would appreciate it if you could take 3-4 minutes to complete our anonymous survey. Your feedback can shape the content and timing of our newsletter for future editions.
