The Checkup

Episode 29: Medicinal Cannabis & the Law – Navigating AHPRA’s new rules

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:49:40 +1000

The regulatory landscape surrounding medicinal cannabis in Australia is evolving rapidly, with significant implications for healthcare professionals, legal practitioners, and insurers alike. Staying informed is essential to ensure compliance with new standards and to support safe, ethical prescribing practices.

In this episode of The Checkup, BN’s Lee Lenkinski and Joshua Scott revisit the topic of medicinal cannabis in light of new guidelines from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) released in July 2025. They explore the regulatory changes since their previous episode, the rationale behind them, and what these developments mean for clinicians and the broader health sector.

Together, they unpack the key obligations now expected of prescribers, including comprehensive patient assessments, evidence-based prescribing, and the importance of informed consent, particularly when dealing with unapproved products. They also highlight the risks of poor practice, the parallels with opioid prescribing, and the Australian Medical Association’s support for tighter regulation through the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) current consultation process.

Key questions considered in this episode include:

What are AHPRA’s new expectations for prescribing medicinal cannabis?
How can practitioners ensure they are prescribing safely and legally?
What are the clinical and legal risks of poor prescribing practices?
What role does the TGA’s consultation play in shaping future regulation?

This episode offers practical guidance for healthcare professionals navigating the complexities of medicinal cannabis prescribing, helping them align with current regulatory expectations and uphold their duty of care.

This episode of The Checkup was edited by Audio Advantage.

Episode 28: Voluntary Assisted Dying – The evolving landscape in Australia

Mon, 12 May 2025 12:18:56 +1000

Content warning: this episode of The Checkup discusses highly sensitive topics, including death and suicide. If you find this episode triggering, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

The evolving landscape of voluntary assisted dying (VAD) presents significant ethical and legal challenges for healthcare professionals in Australia. Understanding these complexities is crucial for ensuring compliance with current legislation while providing compassionate and effective care.

In this episode of The Checkup, BN’s Samantha Pillay and Demi Peters delve into the complex world of VAD with returning guest, Dr Ruthie Jeanneret, a lecturer at The University of Queensland, School of Medicine and TC Beirne School of Law. Ruthie completed her PhD thesis at QUT’s Australian Centre for Health Law Research, which investigated patients' and family caregivers' perspectives and experiences of VAD regulation in Australia and Canada. She has been involved in writing the VAD mandatory training for participating practitioners in Queensland, Western Australia, and Victoria.

Together, they discuss the evolving regulatory framework, ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare providers, and practical implications of VAD in clinical practice.

Key questions considered in this episode include:

What are the current legal requirements for VAD?
How can healthcare professionals navigate the ethical tensions surrounding VAD?
What are the challenges and opportunities in the evolving VAD landscape?

This episode provides valuable insights for healthcare professionals grappling with the complexities of VAD, helping them uphold their legal and ethical responsibilities in this sensitive area of practice.

This episode of The Checkup was edited by Audio Advantage.

Further reading and references:

The Checkup – Voluntary assisted dying: Implementation, consequences, and obligations of the new laws on healthcare practitioners: Episode 24
How patients and caregivers influence voluntary assisted dying systems: QUT Research Paper
Calls to ensure voluntary assisted dying access for rural and regional Australians after Federal Court ruling: ABC News
Criminal Code Amendment (Telecommunications Offences for Suicide Related Material—Exception for Lawful Voluntary Assisted Dying) Bill 2024: Parliament of Australia
Access to voluntary assisted dying in Victoria: a qualitative study of family caregivers’ perceptions of barriers and facilitators: Medical Journal of Australia
Attorney-General must act on telehealth and voluntary assisted dying: AMA
State of VAD 2024: Go Gentle Australia
Voluntary assisted dying five-year review: Victoria Department of Health
Access to voluntary assisted dying in Australia requires fair remuneration for medical practitioners: Medical Journal of Australia
Introducing Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: Lessons on Pragmatic Ethics and the Implementation of a Morally Contested Practice: HEC Forum
Barriers to connecting with the voluntary assisted dying system in Victoria, Australia: A qualitative mixed method study: Health Expectations
Victoria scraps ‘gag clause’ banning doctors from raising voluntary assisted dying with patients: The Guardian
People with dementia aren’t currently eligible for voluntary assisted dying. Should they be?: The Conversation
Optimal Regulation of Voluntary Assisted Dying: QUT Research Project
Carr v Attorney General (Cth) [2023] FCA 1500: Judgment

Episode 27: Medicinal cannabis and the law

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 08:20:56 +1000

The legalisation of medicinal cannabis has opened new treatment pathways for patients across Australia, but it also presents complex regulatory and legal challenges for healthcare professionals. Navigating these intricacies is essential to ensure compliance with evolving legislation while delivering safe and effective care.

In this episode of The Checkup, BN’s Lee Lenkinski and Joshua Scott explore the legal landscape of medicinal cannabis in Australia. They discuss the regulatory framework governing its prescription and supply, the professional responsibilities of healthcare providers, and cases where practitioners have faced scrutiny for non-compliance.

Key questions considered in this episode include:

What are the current legal requirements for prescribing medicinal cannabis?
How can healthcare professionals balance patient needs with regulatory obligations?
What are the risks of non-compliance, and how can they be mitigated?

This episode provides valuable insights for healthcare professionals navigating the complexities of medicinal cannabis, helping them uphold their legal and ethical responsibilities in this evolving area of practice.

This episode of The Checkup was recorded and edited by Audio Advantage.

Episode 26: Healing or harm? The perils of overstepping boundaries in healthcare

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 11:07:39 +1000

Content warning: this episode of The Checkup discusses highly sensitive topics, including sexual assault. If you find this episode triggering, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Healthcare professionals are entrusted with the wellbeing of their patients, a relationship that carries an inherent power imbalance. Maintaining professional boundaries is critical, yet challenging, as overstepping these boundaries can have serious repercussions for both practitioners and patients.

In this episode of The Checkup, BN’s Emma Baker and Tyler Lim delve into the complex issue of boundary violations in healthcare. They explore the expectations placed on healthcare professionals to uphold these boundaries and examine recent cases where practitioners have been sanctioned for transgressions, such as inappropriate relationships with patients and inadequate consent during intimate examinations.

In this discussion, they consider the professional obligations around maintaining appropriate boundaries, the legal frameworks that guide these expectations, and the implications of boundary violations. Key questions considered in this episode include:

What constitutes a professional boundary violation in healthcare?
How can healthcare professionals navigate the fine line between building rapport and overstepping boundaries?
What are the potential consequences of failing to maintain these boundaries?

This episode serves as a vital reminder for healthcare professionals to remain vigilant about their interactions with patients, ensuring they maintain the trust placed in them by adhering to ethical and professional standards.

This episode of The Checkup was recorded and edited by Audio Advantage.

Episode 25: Combatting vicarious trauma in the workplace

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 10:01:06 +1000

Content warning: this episode of The Checkup discusses highly sensitive topics, including vicarious trauma and psychological harm. If you find this episode triggering, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

As legal professionals, we might find ourselves navigating emotionally challenging subject matters, graphic material or cases that involve emotionally charged parties. This can, in some instances, lead professionals to encounter 'vicarious trauma,' a phenomenon often experienced in high-stress industries such as law or healthcare at various stages of one's career.

In this episode of The Checkup, BN’s Natalie Laidlaw and Ashlee Sherman talk to Sally Ryan and Carly Schrever; psychologists and the directors of Human Ethos, about the complexities of vicarious trauma, empathy-based stress, burnout and compassion fatigue in the workplace. Together, they explore how we can recognise the symptoms of stress, both in ourselves and our colleagues, as well as some strategies to effectively manage and prevent vicarious trauma.

In their discussion, they consider the following questions:

What is vicarious trauma?
What are some of the risk factors that make people more likely than others to experience vicarious trauma?
What are some signs to look out for in colleagues who are experiencing vicarious trauma?
What is empathy-based stress?
How can compassion fatigue arise?
What is the best approach to dealing with the symptoms of burnout?
How can we assist our colleagues who may be struggling?

This episode of The Checkup was recorded by Pughouse Studios and edited by Audio Advantage.

Episode 24: Voluntary assisted dying: Implementation, consequences, and obligations of the new laws on healthcare practitioners

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 10:18:33 +1000

Content warning: this episode of The Checkup discusses highly sensitive topics, including death and suicide. If you find this episode triggering, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

The Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) laws have been passed in all Australian states and are currently being rolled out across the country. While the laws are already in operation in some states, other states will commence the laws in 2023.

These new laws will have a significant impact on the healthcare industry in Australia and they raise complex questions around practical implementation and their interplay with overlapping laws.

In this timely episode of The Checkup, Demi Peters, an Associate in BN's national health law team, discusses this topical and divisive issue with BN Principal and health law expert, Samantha Pillay, and guest Ruthie Jeanneret, a PhD student at Queensland University of Technology who is researching patients and families' perspectives and experiences of decision-making about VAD in Australia and Canada. Ruthie is also a member of the team at the Australian Centre for Health Law Research tasked with writing the mandatory training in several Australian States that health professionals participating in VAD must complete.

Our speakers explore the technical aspects of the laws in each state and the obligations placed on medical practitioners implementing VAD in practice.

In their discussion, they will also consider the following questions:

What is conscientious objection and how does it apply to practitioners who object to VAD practices?
What are the main considerations when a practitioner doesn't object but the institution does?
Can VAD be raised with patients and when could these discussions amount to professional misconduct claims?
What happens when VAD conflicts with existing laws such as negligence and criminal law?
How do the VAD laws sit alongside a practitioner's duty of care, which is to exercise reasonable care and skill in the provision of professional advice and treatment?
How does VAD impact telehealth?
What overlaps exist between suicide and VAD that health care practitioners should be aware of?

Relevant links:

LexisNexis quick reference card
Episode 22 of The Checkup: The line between voluntary assisted dying and criminal conviction
Enhancing End-of-Life Decision Making: Optimal Regulation of Voluntary Assisted Dying Project
Del Villar, K et al, ‘Voluntary Assisted Dying and the Legality of Using a Telephone or Internet Service: The Impact of Commonwealth 'carriage Service' Offences’
White, Ben, Del Villar, Katrine, Willmott, Lindy, Close, Eliana, & Jeanneret, Ruthie, (2022) 'Mapping the legal regulation of voluntary assisted dying in Victoria: The coherence of a new practice within the wider legal system'.

This episode of The Checkup was edited by Audio Advantage.

Music by ComaStudio from Pixabay.

Episode 23: When courts are asked to turn off life support: a conversation about futile treatment and best interests in the wake of the Archie Battersbee case

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 09:32:14 +1000

Content warning: this episode of The Checkup discusses highly sensitive topics involving children so listener discretion is advised.

Who makes the decision when it comes to withdrawing a patient's life support? The recent UK case of Archie Battersbee has brought to light the challenging issues courts consider when intervening in cases relating to withdrawal of life support.

When these tragic and highly emotional matters arise, they involve the patients, families, hospitals, and clinicians. So with many parties involved and many factors to consider, how do the courts make their determination?

In this episode of The Checkup, BN health law experts, Samantha Pillay and Lisa Fairley, examine the tragic story of Archie Battersbee and the laws around withdrawing life support. They discuss similar cases in the UK and Australia, what the courts take into account when making these types of decisions, and the exceptional case in Queensland for adult patients without capacity.

In their discussion, Sam and Lisa consider the following questions:

When will the courts intervene?
What is futile and non-beneficial treatment and how much weight do courts give to this medical determination?
How is a patient's best interests determined?
What rights do patients and family members have when they disagree with doctors?

Relevant links:

ABC Law Report - Life, death and the law
BN Case Alert - Archie Battersbee
The Guardian article - Archie Battersbee: how third parties can further complicate tragic life support cases
Further details about Archie Battersbee's decisions
The Hospital v S (a minor) [2019] NSWSC 642
The case of Charlie Gard
The case of Tafida Raqeeb
"Mohammed's case"

This episode of The Checkup was edited by Audio Advantage.

Episode 22: The line between voluntary assisted dying and criminal conviction

Wed, 11 May 2022 09:21:17 +1000

Content warning: this episode of The Checkup discusses highly sensitive topics, including death and suicide. If you find this episode triggering, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

In Australia, criminal law prohibits active voluntary euthanasia, however Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation has been introduced and/or passed in various states, making it accessible for persons who meet a certain criteria. The intersection of criminal law and new end-of-life legislation raises a few questions:

What will we see change across the healthcare industry?
Will patients and their treatment options be impacted?
How will it impact the lives of our loved ones?

In this episode of The Checkup, BN’s Milyka McCutcheon unpacks these questions alongside Dr Katrine Del Villar, a health law researcher at Queensland University of Technology. Together, they also discuss a 2018 criminal prosecution involving the assisted death of a terminally ill woman, and how the application of today’s end-of-life legislation might have resulted in a different outcome.

This episode of The Checkup was editing by Audio Advantage.

Episode 21: Health Complaints Commissioner: uncovering the complaints resolution process with HCC Resolutions Manager Felicity Lathrop

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 07:41:59 +1000

Understandably, the thought of being contacted by the Health Complaints Commissioner (HCC) following a complaint can be stressful for practitioners and health service providers. However, in many cases, this is usually a result of a lack of understanding of the HCC's processes. In this episode of The Checkup, BN's Scott Shelly is joined by Felicity Lathrop, Resolutions Manager for the Health Complaints Commissioner in Victoria, to uncover the role of the HCC in the complaints resolution process, and hopefully relieve some of the anxiety practitioners and health service providers often feel when dealing with the HCC. Felicity walks us through a day in her life as Resolutions Manager, some of the recurring issues she sees amongst complaints, as well as some tips for health service providers to avoid receiving complaints and for advisers to better manage complaints.

This episode of The Checkup was recorded by Rolln Media and edited by Audio Advantage.

Episode 19: #FreeBritney – how would Britney’s conservatorship play out in Australia?

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 10:53:11 +1000

Most people will be familiar with the very public rise and fall of Britney Spears - from pop princess to a young mother tormented by the paparazzi, and the toll this inevitably took on her mental health which played out publicly for the world to see. However, in recent years, Britney has hit headlines for unexpected reasons. It's come to light that she has been the subject of a conservatorship since 2008, with her father appointed as her conservator and therefore responsible for making all personal and financial decisions on Britney's behalf. 13 years later, and after numerous court hearings, on 13 August 2021, Britney's father agreed to step down as conservator.

So, why was it so hard for Britney to have a say in who controlled her own personal and financial decisions? Why was the independence to make decisions taken away in the first place? And why has this lasted 13 years? Her situation raises the question - could this (or does this) happen in Australia?

In this episode of The Checkup, BN's Sam Pillay, Milyka McCutcheon and Lisa Fairley explore Britney's 13 year (and counting) legal battle, and unpack how Britney's situation would apply if she lived in Australia.

Episode 18: The COVID-19 Vaccination with Dr Lai Heng Foong

Thu, 13 May 2021 17:12:25 +1000

As we continue to witness the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic around the world, especially across countries like the UK, the US and of course, the devastating effect its having on India, the development and implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination has become an important and topical conversation for everyone.

In this episode of The Checkup, BN’s Kate Hickey and Hannah Shiel are joined, once again, by Dr Lai Heng Foong, an emergency physician and frontline worker, and Chair of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine’s Public Health and Disaster Committee. We talked to Dr Foong last March (episode 14), just as the devastating impacts of COVID-19 were really starting to unfold around the world. Over 12 months and 3 million COVID-related deaths later, Dr Foong joins us to discuss the COVID-19 vaccination, including herd immunity, concerns surrounding the AstraZeneca vaccine and the risk ratios involved, who is required to have the vaccine, how it’s been developed, and why it should be considered a celebration of global cooperation. Kate and Hannah also provide some guidance to medical practitioners around receiving the COVID-19 vaccination from a medico-legal perspective.

Episode notes:

Episode 17: COVID, mental health and the rise of telehealth with Dr Erika Penney

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 09:17:37 +1000

If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it’s the importance of having the necessary infrastructure in place to allow us the ability to pick up the phone and get the health and medical assistance we require. This includes mental health support. Telehealth hasn’t just helped prevent the spread of the virus, it’s made quality healthcare more accessible to people who, due to various circumstances, were unable to access these services previously.

In this episode of The Checkup, BN's Kate Hickey and Hannah Shiel talk to Dr Erika Penney, a clinical psychologist and lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney. Erika shares some of her professional experiences from the pandemic, the pros and cons of telehealth, issues and information relating to consent, as well as some tips to help maintain and improve your mental health.

Episode notes:

https://mindspot.org.au/

https://thiswayup.org.au/

https://moodgym.com.au/

https://about.healthdirect.gov.au/video-call

This episode of The Checkup was recorded by Sydney Podcast Studios and edited by Audio Advantage.

Episode 16: Cultural and Legal Issues in Indigenous Health with Avelina Tarrago

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 08:41:26 +1000

Since the Closing the Gap initiative began 10 years ago, some progress has been made to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. But there is still work to be done in achieving equity in Indigenous health. In this episode, BN's Melissa Carius is joined by Avelina Tarrago to discuss the cultural and legal issues for health practitioners who have patients of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island background. Avelina is a barrister with North Quarter Lane Chambers in Brisbane, and President of the Indigenous Lawyers Association of Queensland.

This episode of The Checkup was recorded and edited by Audio Advantage - www.audioadvantage.com.au

Episode 15: A Climate Change Emergency with Dr Lai Heng Foong

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 10:47:15 +1000

Whilst COVID-19 caused incredible loss, fear and panic around the world, there was a silver lining to the pandemic – a rejuvenation of our environment. With the world in lockdown and an unprecedented downturn in manufacturing, there has since been countless observations and reports of a worldwide ‘re-awakening’ and renewal of our ecosystems due to a reduction in burning fossil fuels. But as we begin to ramp up industry, just as quickly we return to the same destructive path. But it’s not just the environment it affects, it’s people, too. With a rising number of floods, heatwaves, bushfires and other natural disasters being driven by climate change, hospital emergency departments are at the forefront of dealing with the physical and mental effects of this ‘slow-burning’ emergency. In this episode, BN’s Kate Hickey talks to Dr Lai Heng Foong about climate change, it’s links to our healthcare system and our health, what we can do to prevent further damage and what our future might look like if we don’t take action. Lai Heng is an emergency physician in Sydney, and Chair of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine’s Public Health and Disaster Committee.

This episode of The Checkup was recorded by Sydney Podcast Studios and edited by Audio Advantage.

Episode 14: On the frontline of COVID-19 with Dr Lai Heng Foong

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 16:47:28 +1000

The Coronavirus, or COVID-19, was first discovered in Wuhan (China) in January this year and has rapidly spread throughout the world causing mass fear and panic on an immense scale. In this episode, BN’s Kate Hickey sits down with Dr Lai Heng Foong to discuss COVID-19, her experiences on the frontline of fighting a worldwide pandemic and some tips on how we can best manage the virus as a community, and as individuals. Kate also provides some guidance for how doctors can navigate the virus from a medico-legal perspective. Lai Heng is an emergency physician in Sydney, and Chair of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine’s Public Health and Disaster Committee.

Episode notes:

Information for GPs – https://www.racgp.org.au/coronavirus
NSW Health Updates – https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx
Medical Indemnity Protection Society (MIPS) – https://www.mips.com.au/articles/coronavirus-update-for-practitioners
AHPRA & National Boards – https://www.ahpra.gov.au/News/COVID-19.aspx
UK case involving the spread of infection between a staff member and patient – https://bit.ly/3b6nsEB

This episode of The Checkup was recorded by Sydney Podcast Studios and edited by Audio Advantage.

Episode 13: Professional burnout – building resilience and finding your way back with Chelsea Pottenger

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 15:01:58 +1000

The health care environment – with its heavy workloads, demanding pace and significant time pressures – can put practitioners at a high risk of burnout. In this episode, BN's Sam Pillay and Katrina Mawer discuss biohacking, resilience and overcoming burnout with Chelsea Pottenger. Chelsea is the director of EQ Consulting, international speaker, mental health ambassador, and key figure in the mindfulness movement.

Episode Notes:

Oura Ring – www.ouraring.com
WHOOP Device – www.whoop.com
GUT by Giulia Enders
Microba – www.microba.com
Cyto Pro by Eagle Natural Health
Dr Nicholas Christakis ‘The Hidden Influence of Social Networks’ TED Talk
Dr Rhonda Patrick ‘Found My Fitness’ podcast – www.foundmyfitness.com
Beyond Blue – www.beyondblue.org.au
LifeLine Support – www.lifeline.org.au

This episode of The Checkup was edited by Audio Advantage.

Episode 12: Superbugs and antimicrobial resistance, and why it's everyone's problem!

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 15:20:15 +1000

World Antibiotic Week runs from 18 to 24 November 2019, aiming to draw attention to the effective use of antibiotics (a type of antimicrobial) in preventing and containing antimicrobial resistance.

With World Antibiotic Week in mind, in this episode of The Checkup, BN's Emma Topen talks to Dr Mark Blaskovich from the University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience. They chat all things superbugs, why antimicrobial resistance is everyone's problem, and some novel and exciting homegrown programs and possible solutions.

Please support CO-ADD in its important work to find a solution, before drug-resistant bacteria becomes a global health catastrophe: https://www.co-add.org/content/donate

This episode of The Checkup was edited by Audio Advantage.

The Case of Keli Lane - Part 3: Abortion legislation then and now

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 10:49:20 +1000

For those not familiar with Keli Lane’s story, she is a former Australian water polo player who made headlines throughout the country when her baby mysteriously went missing, sparking a coronial inquest into her disappearance. In December 2010, Keli was convicted of murder and sentenced to 18 years in prison.

In the third and final instalment of our Keli Lane podcast series, BN's Sarah Carlisle and Emma Harman discuss the recent reforms to Queensland's abortion laws, and how they compare to the laws in the rest of the country. They consider what the law looked like in the 1990s, when Keli Lane was experiencing her unwanted pregnancies, and how the law has evolved over the last 20 years.

The Case of Keli Lane - Part 2: The psychology of secret pregnancies

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 08:49:22 +1000

In Part 2, BN's Sarah Carlisle is joined by Kathryn Smith, a clinical psychologist and the joint director of a large private practice in Brisbane. Kathryn has a broad range of experience which includes a stint working in a large maternity hospital providing psychological support to women during pregnancy and in the post-natal period. They discuss the psychology behind secret pregnancies and the significance of perinatal and postnatal mental disorders, both in that context and more generally.

The Case of Keli Lane - Part 1: Maternal healthcare issues and pre and postnatal hospital care

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 08:21:08 +1000

In Part 1 of the series, BN's Sarah Carlisle is joined by Dr Baade, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Brisbane’s Mater Hospital, to discuss the maternal healthcare issues arising out of a case like Keli Lane’s, and pre and postnatal care provided by hospitals to new mums.

Episode 8: Medical treatment for children – when do court orders become necessary?

Mon, 20 May 2019 08:42:10 +1000

In this episode BN's Sam Pillay and Emma Harman are lucky enough to be joined by Matthew Hickey, barrister at Level 27 Chambers in Brisbane. Together they look at when court orders are necessary to authorise the medical treatment of a child, how the courts become involved and what factors they consider in reaching a decision.

Episode notes:

Baby K case - Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service v AT [2018] QSC 147 (14 June 2018)
Gillick v West Norfolk AHA [1986] AC 112
Marion’s case (1992) 175 CLR 218
Baby Mohammed - TS & DS v Sydney Children's Hospital Network ("Mohammed's case") [2012] NSWSC 1609 (24 December 2012)

Episode 7: The do's and don'ts of clinical record keeping for nurses

Thu, 02 May 2019 10:45:28 +1000

Good health care starts with good communication, and this starts with accurate clinical record keeping. Nursing is a 24 hour job, and as practitioners pass the baton onto the next shift, precise record keeping is imperative to ensure clinical disasters are averted.

In this episode of The Checkup, BN's Jodeen Brewer is joined by Melinda Zerner QC to discuss the do's and don'ts of clinical record keeping, and explore a real life example of where poor record keeping contributed to the avoidable death of a patient.

This episode of The Checkup was recorded and edited by Audio Advantage - www.audioadvantage.com.au

Episode 6: Giving evidence in court - tips and traps

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 10:02:37 +1000

BN's Jasmin Sears in joined by Kathryn McMillan QC to discuss some tips and traps for medical professionals who might find themselves appearing in court to give evidence.

This episode of The Checkup was recorded and edited by Audio Advantage - www.audioadvantage.com.au

Episode 5: Are your employees making you vulnerable to cyber threats?

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 10:52:12 +1000

In a report released by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) mid last year, it was revealed that:

the main target for cyber criminals is the healthcare industry, and
the largest cause of data breaches in Australia, following criminal attacks, is just simple human error.

In this episode of The Checkup, BN's Robert Samut and Katrina Mawer are joined by Patricia McMillan, author and cyber security awareness expert, to discuss the role employees play in data and cyber breaches, and what we can do as organisations in the healthcare industry to protect against that vulnerability.

This episode of The Checkup was recorded and edited by Audio Advantage - www.audioadvantage.com.au

Episode 4: Doctors behaving badly

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 15:22:03 +1000

BN's Sarah Hull and Gillian Sheppard explore the world of badly behaved doctors and medical professionals - think intoxicated scrub nurses, inappropriate relationships between professionals and patients, and under qualified specialists. And provide some tips for what you should do if you're a health care professionals and a complaint is made against you.

This episode of The Checkup was recorded and edited by Audio Advantage - www.audioadvantage.com.au

Episode 3: Mandatory reporting - what happens when a doctor is depressed?

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 07:56:37 +1000

Unfortunately, the stigma that surrounds mental health within Australia’s health care industry has deterred doctors from looking after their mental health – whether by taking time off, or seeking professional treatment.

In Episode 3 of The Checkup, BN health law solicitors Sarah Hull and Olivia Pine discuss how the current mandatory reporting requirements under the Health Practitioner National Law have the potential to deter practitioners from seeking treatment for mental health issues.

If you need to talk to someone about your mental health, please don't hesitate to call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636.

This episode of The Checkup was recorded and edited by Audio Advantage - www.audioadvantage.com.au

Episode 2: A complication or medical negligence... when are doctors liable to their patients?

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 08:30:00 +1000

Not all negligence cases are as dramatic as amputating the wrong limb or leaving a sponge inside a patient after surgery. They are usually far less obvious, and it can be difficult to determine whether a doctor has breached his or her duty of care.

BN Senior Associates Melissa Carius and Emma Harman discuss where we draw the line between a complication and negligence.

Episode notes: https://www.queenslandjudgments.com.au/case/id/87087

This episode of The Checkup was recorded and edited by Audio Advantage - www.audioadvantage.com.au

Episode 1: Innovation in healthcare - Medtasker

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 07:45:30 +1000

BN's Sam Pillay talks to Dr Andrew Yap, CEO and co-founder of Medtasker, a mobile communication and task management platform for hospitals.

They discussed how Dr Yap's experiences as a young doctor led him to establish Medtasker, and how Medtasker is working to improve patient safety, increase efficiency in organisations and reduce medico-legal risks.

This episode of The Checkup was recorded and edited by Audio Advantage - www.audioadvantage.com.au

TRAILER: Welcome to The Checkup

Fri, 14 Dec 2018 08:50:22 +1000

Welcome to The Checkup. Hit 'follow' to receive our first episode very soon!