Australian Doctor 16th May 2025 | Page 19

Doctors washing work clothes in domestic washing machines are an infection risk, study warns

Is this person safe to use

Dr a firearm? Health checks for gun owners placing GPs in a‘ complex situation’

Excellent. First, it was‘ bare below the elbows’, now it’ ll probably just be‘ bare’.

Dr Jonathan Gibson Anaesthetist, Westmead, NSW

Let’ s face it, scrubs outside of operating theatres( eg, in ED) is a fashion that was driven by George Clooney and the TV show ER more than by infection control evidence.

It started long before COVID and happened because many of the ER doctors in ER were surgical trainees— which has never been the case here.

A myth then developed that scrubs were some sort of protection when, in fact, they were originally designed to be discarded into the hospital laundry at the end of the day. Dr Sue Ieraci Emergency medicine, Sydney, NSW

The fantasy that scrubs are miraculous protection is well-illustrated in paeds and obstetrics.

Registrars on for wards / deliveries / theatre diligently put their scrubs on at the beginning of the day, then wear them all day while popping in and out of theatre between activity on wards, delivery suite, toilet and lunch, should they have time for toilet or lunch.

I get blank incomprehension when I point out that they are supposed to change every time they enter theatre.

The common responses are often“ but I’ m wearing scrubs” or“ we’ re too busy”.

Fundamental to my student training back in the day was drilling by a suitably terrifying theatre sister on gowning, gloving, aseptic technique and access.

I may just be an old fart, but I do wonder whether this has fallen by the wayside. Dr Andrew Watkins Paediatrician, Heidelberg, VIC

UCAT ditches abstract reasoning test because it doesn’ t predict if you’ ll be any good at med school

An older physician colleague of mine recounted his medicine entrance interview in the UK.

There were three questions: 1. What does your father do for a living? 2. Can you afford to do the course? 3. Do you play rugby?

That covers a lot of ground and is something that can’ t be‘ coached’ to get you over the line.

Dr Stephen Gaggin GP, Broken Hill, NSW

In the 1960s, UK psychologist Hans Eysenck sat in on interviews for entry to St Thomas’ s Hospital Medical School. He was able to predict who would be accepted at a rate of 84 %. He did this by simply matching backgrounds and personality traits.

The Dutch used a ballot system to choose its medical students.

Is that bad? Medicine requires many different personalities and skills.

Most of us would choose to be operated on by a skilled but soulless surgeon rather than an empathic but less skilled one. Professor Max Kamien Retired doctor, Perth, WA

I got almost 100 % in the abstract reasoning part of the UCAT test.

I made it through medical school while working part-time and having two kids, before doing my training in remote Queensland. I stayed there for over a decade. Without that UMAT score, maybe

I would have missed out. Phew! Glad they are only scrapping it now, otherwise“ crap” doctors like me would never have got in. Dr Leonie Fromberg GP, Mission Beach, QLD

How many young people’ s dreams and aspirations have been destroyed by the UCAT, a test with no validity?

I’ ve met many young men and women who were denied a career in medicine because they failed baseless tests and interviews. Dr Julian Parmegiani Retired psychiatrist, Sydney, NSW

‘ This is the path I chose …’ The lives and deaths of health workers in Gaza

Thank you AusDoc for posting these articles. These stories are not being covered by the mainstream media.

Crimes against healthcare workers and civilians are being carried out on an unimaginable scale.

Thank you for bearing witness to what is happening in Gaza.

Dr Elias Nasser Radiation oncologist, Crookwell, NSW

Hamas has weaponised healthcare in Gaza; hospitals hide terrorists and sit atop tunnels. Ambulances transport guns and munitions.

AusDoc, please point the finger clearly at the source of this woe. That is Hamas, Islamic Jihad and their supporters who murder, rape and torture.

All that has to be done is for the terrorists to return the hostages they have taken and lay down arms.

Not contentious, one would hope, and then all of this bloodshed stops.

And for the sake of balance, how about some articles from the Israeli viewpoint just once in a while?

Associate Professor Jonathan Levy GP, Highett, VIC

I don’ t mind patients with lists, but double appointments grind my gears

I like it when patients bring in lists. I take those lists and copy them into

the notes and then try to do the routine care around the list as we go.

It allows me to get them to be realistic about how much can be accomplished during the visit and what might be needed in terms of coming back.

I hear you about the double appointments— many patients are just intent on having more time for things that are really not justifiable.

But there are always the patients who I insist are only booked as doubles because they have mobility and / or mental health issues that I cannot deal with in 15 minutes.

Dr Louise Fisher GP, Lismore, NSW

Jimi Hendrix, jail and life as a’ 70s doctor: AusDoc interviews Bob Brown

Bob Brown is an extraordinary man. A mild-mannered GP whose conscience forced him into speaking up and a life of activism.

The saving of the glorious Franklin River was largely his doing. Our world would be a much poorer place without such moral giants.

All power to you, Bob Brown. A mighty Australian hero.

Dr Julie Kidd GP, Hawker, ACT

So true. A great example of someone using their intellect to educate the next generation about the importance of preserving our amazing natural environments and ensuring they are saved.

I joined the protest as a medical student, and it’ s still one of my life’ s highlights. Dr Julie Adamson Paediatrician, New Lambton Heights, NSW

Doctors are generally comfortable doing fitness-to-drive assessments because they( mostly) all drive cars and understand what’ s involved. They are also supported by a 264- page manual.

Those doing aviation or diving medicals need specialist training and accreditation.

So I’ m not surprised that only 1 in 10 GPs say they will be comfortable doing a firearms assessment when it’ s made mandatory in WA. Dr Derek Bell GP, Bellingen, NSW

Governments establish systems to scapegoat GPs for their own failures.

In the future, any gunshot death will be presented by government as being the fault of the doctor who did the medical.

A get-out-of-jail-free card for incompetent politicians and bureaucrats.

Meanwhile, in Switzerland, every citizen does national service and is issued a gun. Dr Joe Kosterich GP, Woodvale, WA

Medicare’ s magical

MO number factory: Why do bureaucrats trust doctors to save lives but not prescribe?

Well articulated, Dr George Quittner, and thank you.

The authority line’ s mundane on-hold music just zaps my brain, while the patient and I stare at each other and wait for the voice at the other end, which sometimes feels like an eternity.

Then it’ s the frustration of having to recite all the details / numbers to a very courteous stranger again whenever the patient comes for their repeat. Dr Constantina Rodrigues GP, Cranbourne, VIC

Dr Quittner is spot on. I feel the same, especially about the music.

All these pleasant men and women working in comfortable air-conditioned offices receive generous wages just to take down some numbers and to give us some numbers in return.

Bizarre. Dr Sumathi Sundar GP, Keiraville, NSW