Dr Tony Trachtenberg GP in Sydney for 50 years .

PICTURE CREDIT

and friends .

“ The board regularly receives

notifications related to medical

practitioners providing medical

care to family members and to

those close to them ,” it said in its

monthly update .

“[ But ] we have received feedback

, particularly from some older

practitioners , that they have always

done this and cannot see why it is a

problem .”

These doctors were very mistaken ,

it suggested .

It went on to list a few examples ,

including a GP prescribing benzodiazepines

for their partner without

My mother rang me , and I raced

Shortly after taking the medica-

they were not improving , so I told

GP and their family , it could save

the knowledge of the partner ’ s psy-

over and drove my father to hospi-

tion , he fainted . It was lucky that

them to go back and be tested for

a 200km trip to the next town

chiatrist , and a paediatrician who

tal . Within half an hour of arrival ,

he was not standing at the top of

pertussis .

so their kids can get routine

prescribed Ritalin for their son .

he had a cardiac arrest .

the stairs .

That test turned out to be

vaccinations .

I understand the concerns . But

I happened to be on the arrest

My response was to quarter his

positive .

The line in the sand surely

based on my own experiences , I

team at the hospital that day and

dose , and since then his blood pres-

There are too many other instances

depends on the availability of col-

would argue that the board ’ s injunc-

was the first to start CPR before

sure has been perfect .

to recount . I have shared them with

leagues as much as the urgency of

tion — that the only justification for

colleagues and have never received a

the situation .

treating family is an emergency situation — must be more flexible .

At the age of 60 , my father collapsed at home after being told by his doctor that his chest pain was

My response was to quarter his dose , and since then his blood pressure has been perfect .

negative comment about me being a dangerous doctor .

I have also never been concerned about the board . And just to stress , I have always steered my

One of my best friends lives in a small Queensland town ( population 30 ), and when she gets sick she has to call the air ambulance , or travel four hours to the nearest doctor .

“ only muscular ” — despite also

family to a colleague if the matter

If she or her husband was a doc-

experiencing heavy sweating and

the rest of the duty team took over ,

Obviously if I had not intervened

was very personal or , in the case

tor , it would be more practical to

loss of consciousness .

My mother called an ambulance but was told there would be a 5-6 hour wait .

The rationale for this response

without a murmur of complaint . My father recovered and lived another 18 years . Another relative of mine was prescribed maximal blood pres-

before he could go back to his doctor , he could have come to serious harm .

Another case from the real world ? My daughter and her family in France were coughing severely to

of my wife and daughters , if it was gynaecological .

My point is that there are times when it must be okay for doctors to treat their own family , outside of

be treated at home by the medical spouse .

I think we all have colleagues who , if need be , are comfortable in treating family members .

was that his condition didn ’ t sound

sure medication by his doctor after

the point of fainting .

an emergency , when it will lead to a

serious since he ’ d just seen his usual doctor .

a routine checkup revealed he had hypertension .

The local GP had them on salbutamol and prednisone , but

faster resolution of the problem . Or , in the case of a solo country

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