AusDoc 20th Mar | Page 17

ausdoc. com. au 20 MARCH 2026

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VIEWS FROM YOUR ONLINE COMMUNITY

The days of docs as gods are over

High-profile doctor

Dr who called nurse a‘ f *** ing witch’ loses $ 2 million discrimination case

Sorry, but Dr Peter Chilcott’ s response explaining his irrational outbursts at nursing staff speaks volumes.

He is practising in a bygone era, where nurses bowed and scraped to any level of doctor.

The unwavering belief was drummed into us that doctors were not human but all-knowing gods. Consultants? OMG, if one appeared in the ward, all nurses— bar the in-charge— scarpered off to hide in the sluice room. Sonja Taylor Nurse, Narangba, Qld

Clearly we can’ t yell at people. Having said that, there’ s something wrong in a hospital where the nurse tells the patient the doctor is giving them medication that could harm their baby.

The nurses were wrong. And that’ s why the person to discuss that with is the doctor.

All of this could have been avoided by following correct procedure.

And the same with the nurses deciding you can’ t give droperidol subcut and telling another doctor to change the order.

Again, they were wrong and should have discussed it with the prescriber, which would be the correct procedure.

There’ s something wrong with staff practising outside the area of their expertise in that hospital and not following correct procedure when they have queries about prescribing.

But no, yelling at them won’ t fix it. Dr Joanne McKeown Palliative medicine, Perth, WA

Many reasons for Cauchi’ s killing spree

’ For the want of a

Dr

$ 240 Medicare rebate, my daughter lost her life’: Grieving mother on the Joel Cauchi killings

Very deeply moving, Elizabeth, and I am deeply sorry for the loss of your beautiful daughter.

I think there are some other complex reasons for the mental health system failure other than the lack of $ 240 Medicare rebate for psychiatrists to do telehealth back in 2019.

Most important is the lack of a public mental health system

Fur therapy: More pet time is key to health

Grief for the death of a pet isn’ t trivial— our response to patients shouldn’ t be either

During COVID, I manned the practice phone calls from home. The number of photos of cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, goldfish and larger animals— like cows, sheep and horses— that I received on my phone from patients, along with expressions of love for them, was legion.

Many patients even requested pictures of Monte, my cavoodle, who slept beside the phone and dinner table where I worked. Dr Mary Kearney GP, Sydney, NSW

My 12-year-old labrador is relentlessly cheerful. He nuzzles me awake when he thinks it’ s light enough and seems to say,“ Oh good, it’ s dog food!” to any meal.

He supervises my showering, as he knows humans don’ t walk in bare fur, then builds a great enthusiasm as I dress, which becomes an ecstasy as I reach for my hat, sunnies and dog lead.

And he never comments on my discussions with him as we sniff around the streets. He’ s a Freudian analyst, no doubt.

The classic quip is that, if you want to know who truly loves you, lock your dog and your spouse in the car boot for an hour and see who’ s happy to see you when you let them out. Dr Ian Hargreaves Orthopaedic surgeon, Sydney, NSW

committed to grabbing hold of, listening to and following up long term in the community all those who suffer long-term and recurrent significant mental illnesses, particularly those with no money.

That’ s what we need. Dr William Pring Psychiatrist, Melbourne, Vic

Oh, Elizabeth, your words make me weep.

All my GP life over the past 40 years, I have been part of meetings, systems and organisations to integrate care of people living with enduring mental health disorders delivered by us GPs, public mental health mobs and private doctors.

Slowly, we have increased the interaction with community mental health centres.

Private psychiatrists, however, do not write back to referring GPs, and they very rarely call us— even though we will call them. Why? The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, when I asked it years ago, said it was up to each practitioner. No standard expectation of communication, just a shrug.

Please listen to Elizabeth. Dr Linda Mann GP, Sydney, NSW

Prison needle ban misses the point

’ They put it up their

Dr arse and walk around with it’: DIY public health prisoner style

Terrible care and a lack of humanity are shown in the ban on inmates accessing needle exchanges.

The punitive mindset in all its glory. The prisoners need to have adequate medical care. And as the comments have suggested, treating the drug addiction is an important part of rehabilitation.

It is also a medical issue, along with all the mental health that gets bundled in with it.

In my opinion, it is incumbent upon the state to provide a medically safe incarceration regardless of the challenges. Adjunct Clinical Professor Karen Price GP, Melbourne, Vic

Each prevented case of hepatitis C transmission could be considered a $ 16,000- $ 18,000 saving for taxpayers in the cost of a course of antiretrovirals. Dr Andy Mullett GP, Mount Cotton, Qld

Island doc left big footprints

’ Pick your passions and

Dr say yes’: Professor Michael Kidd on his life as a GP registrar

I had the benefit of working with Dr John Pickering on Hamilton Island, to where he semi-retired shortly before his death.

I don’ t think the tourists and staff on that holiday island had any idea what a good GP they happened to be seeing in that twee little thatched hut in the Whitsundays.

Dr Neil Carson and Dr Don Cordner were also extraordinary role models for registrars, as is Michael himself.

As a profession, I hope we never lose sight of placing those learning the craft at the elbows of its true( non-gender-specific) masters.

GP supervisors need to be the very best of us. Dr Steve Trumble GP, Aireys Inlet, Vic

Time to give UCC waste the boot

An urgent care clinic

Dr consult costs $ 236— but half the patients say they would have gone to a GP

A friend attended an urgent care clinic( UCC) and was provided with an X-ray request, a pair of crutches and a moon boot for a possible toe fracture. When she offered to return the crutches and the moon boot, she was told to keep them.

Cost and environmental impacts don’ t seem to be a consideration at these clinics. Dr Janet Reid GP, Point Lonsdale, Vic

I haven’ t been to a UCC, but my relatives have. They all have very good GPs, but the problem is being able to get an appointment in a reasonable time. They want the UCCs to stay.

So the fact that many of the attendees would have gone to their own GP if they could get an appointment reinforces why UCCs work. Dr Tim Smyth Medical practitioner, Melbourne, Vic

A powerful reminder of life’ s fragility

Dr

You get shot there, I die here …

Dr Schwann Rad, thank you for this very well-written and beautiful reminder that we live in one of the safest countries on earth.

I was in South Africa during the unrest in the 1980s and have seen and dealt with numerous protestors who were shot.

This article brought back memories like you cannot believe!

My heart breaks for you and all those suffering in Iran. Dr Leon Venter GP, Cooroy, Qld