NEWS 9
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NEWS 9
Nurse beaten unconscious by patient
Heather Saxena A NURSE who was beaten unconscious by a patient with dementia will receive $ 1.8 million in compensation , after a court found the hospital should not have left her alone with a highrisk patient .
The patient grabbed Livleen Chopra by her hair and bashed her head against the wall and floor in a three-minute assault at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in Sydney on Christmas Day 2017 .
Security failed to respond to Ms Chopra ’ s duress button and it took a hospital visitor to sound the alarm , Judge Judith Gibson found .
The patient later told staff he had been trying to kill her .
The NSW District Court heard he had a history of dementia and alcohol abuse and had three previous psychiatric admissions in 2017 — one after trying to strangle his wife — with the hospital recording a “ high ” risk of violence .
Two security guards were meant to be posted at the eight-bed short-stay unit , with
The hospital claimed having another nurse around would have ‘ made no difference ’. the hospital assigning a one-on-one nurse to the patient .
But the court heard that the “ special ” nurse was redeployed shortly after 11pm , while a third nurse also went on a break , leaving Ms Chopra alone .
The patient then beckoned Ms Chopra over and grabbed her hair when she came within one metre .
Ms Chopra was left with chronic PTSD ( level 5 ) as well as a series of pain-related
W-21cm x H-27.3cm ( Custom Size ) Leave Behind conditions comparable to whiplash injury . The hospital ’ s lawyers said Ms Chopra was “ exaggerating or feigning ” her symptoms , submitting video that showed Ms Chopra dancing at a social event .
However , the judge found that Ms Chopra had only attended 10 social events in the six years since the assault , with the video only showing her “ shuffling ” and waving for a few seconds .
She also rejected the hospital ’ s argument that the patient “ jumped out of nowhere ” and having another nurse around would have made “ no difference ”.
Boon for special interests
Heather Saxena TWENTY-nine GPs can now tout formal recognition of their areas of special interest after receiving the RACGP ’ s new $ 1350 certificate .
In November last year , the RACGP launched its Recognition of Extended Skills for GPs who wanted certification of their special interests in dermatology , psychological medicine , addiction medicine , integrative medicine or developmental disability medicine .
Applicants have their training and case studies of patient care assessed by two or three other GPs with recognised special interest skills .
Of the 43 applicants so far , 29 passed the assessment , with some still awaiting a response .
An RACGP spokesperson said they hoped to attract 100 applications in the first year .
Dr Adele Stewart — who offers mindfulness-based stress reduction and pain management — received her certificate in psychological medicine last month .
“ I was not sure it was going to be worth it ,” said the GP from Wollongong , NSW .
“ But it was good for me to see how much work I have put in over the years , and it actually felt really good to be recognised for it .”
Dr Stewart , chair of the RACGP ’ s Pain Management Specific Interests group , said she hoped the certificate gave patients confidence for between-GP referrals .
“ A lot of my patients are so chuffed about me getting chair of the pain Specific Interests group and now this recognition of extended skills ,” she said .
“ It ’ s to do with knowing a doctor is interested in this stuff .”
She said she had “ a bit of imposter syndrome ” when dealing with psychologists , and it “ feels nice to have recognition of my psychological skills ”.
ONE
ACTION MAY
REDUCE
HER RISK OF
WORSENING
CKD1,2^
^ For adults with proteinuric CKD ,* FORXIGA ® significantly reduces the risk of composite of declining renal function , ESKD , or renal or CV death 1 , 2 † vs placebo ( both + SoC )
39 % RRR
( ARR 5.3 %; HR 0.61 ; 95 % CI : 0.51 , 0.72 ; P < 0.0001 ). Primary outcome . 1 , 2
PRESCRIBE FORXIGA ® FOR PATIENTS WITH PROTEINURIC CKD 1
Download the ‘ CKD & Me ’ booklets to help patients take positive steps towards slowing the progression of CKD
* CKD defined as eGFR of ≥25 to ≤75 mL / min / 1.73 m 2 and UACR of ≥200 to ≤5000 mg / g ; 2 † ESKD defined as the need for maintenance dialysis for at least 28 days , renal transplantation or sustained eGFR < 15 mL / min / 1.73 m 2 for at least 28 days . 2
FORXIGA ® is indicated to reduce the risk of progressive decline in kidney function in adults with proteinuric chronic kidney disease ( CKD Stage 2 , 3 or 4 and UACR ≥30 mg / g [~ 3.39 mg / mmol ]). 1
PBS Information : FORXIGA ® : Authority Required ( STREAMLINED ): Type 2 Diabetes , Chronic Heart Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease . Refer to PBS Schedule for full Authority Required Information .
BEFORE PRESCRIBING PLEASE REVIEW FULL PRODUCT INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON REQUEST FROM ASTRAZENECA ON 1800 805 342 OR www . astrazeneca . com . au / PI
ARR = absolute risk reduction ; CKD = chronic kidney disease ; CV = cardiovascular ; CI = confidence interval ; eGFR = estimated glomerular filtration rate ; ESKD = end-stage kidney disease ; HR = hazard ratio ; SoC = standard of care ; RRR = relative risk reduction ; UACR = urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio .
References : 1 . FORXIGA ® Approved Product Information . 2 . Heerspink HJL et al . N Engl J Med . 2020 ; 383 ( 15 ): 1436 – 1446 .
( dapagliflozin )
FORXIGA ® is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies . Registered user AstraZeneca Pty . Ltd . ABN 54 009 682 311 . 66 Talavera Road , Macquarie Park , NSW 2113 . www . astrazeneca . com . au . For Medical Information enquiries or to report an adverse event or product quality complaint : Telephone 1800 805 342 or via https :// contactazmedical . astrazeneca . com . AU-19257 . April 2024 .