JULY / AUGUST ISSUE 2017

PRESIDENT'S WORD Committed to doctors and patients AMA (NSW) will continue to pressure the Federal Government to improve the funding of health, including better supporting Medicare. THE RECENT Federal Budget was hugely disappointing for health in Australia. The Government reluctantly came to the conclusion that it had no choice but to lift the freeze on [...]

FROM THE CEO A celebration of diversity Medical professionals have a duty of care for one another. Supporting our colleagues’ differences is as important as sharing a sense of purpose. WE WOULD like to thank all of the members who contacted us to provide such lovely feedback about the May / June edition of The [...]

DIT DIARY Picking up the pieces There’s no one solution to doctor suicide, but we can address the issue by working together. IN THE MONTHS since our network lost Dr Chloe Abbott and Dr Shirlene Lim there’s been a steady stream of think pieces and media reports on the wellbeing of junior doctors. Mostly, these [...]

STUDENT VIEW Head scarves and scrub caps Despite facing overt prejudice from patients, Marrwah Ahmadzai is heartened by the inclusiveness of colleagues. IT IS ONE of my first stints in the emergency department as a student, and the sounds of buzzing ambience fill the consult room – a steady purr of voices, the shuffle of [...]

PROFILE Backstage with Associate Professor John Gullotta He may be known as ‘the rock doctor’ to the stars, but within the medical profession he’s famous for his commitment to advocacy, charity and the community. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR John Gullotta has his finger on the pulse of the entertainment industry – quite literally. As Sydney’s ‘original rock [...]

FEATURE Federal Budget 2017 After the 2017 Federal Budget was released, Health Minister Greg Hunt declared the Coalition were “Medi-friends”. AMA (NSW) asks, ‘With friends like these…’? POLITICALLY-SPEAKING, the 2017 Federal Budget was a huge success. After almost losing last year’s election following Labor’s ‘Mediscare’ campaign, the Coalition was keen to come out with a [...]

FEATURE A month in Mosul Dr Kevin Baker, an anaesthetist from Sydney, recently spent a month working in Médecins Sans Frontières’ trauma hospital just south of Mosul. AS FIGHTING rages in Mosul, Iraq, civilians are caught in the middle with limited access to lifesaving medical care. Since the offensive to retake the city of Mosul [...]

FEATURE AMA National Conference The AMA National Conference held in May recognised several medical professionals for their contribution to healthcare, the profession and the community. States and Territories were also applauded for media and advocacy. AMA Roll of Fellows The AMA inducted two new members into the AMA Roll of Fellows – former AMA Tasmania [...]

FEATURE Medicinal cannabis: important changes Here’s what you and your patients need to know about recent changes to rules regarding medicinal cannabis. THE SENATE voted in June to fasttrack access to medicinal cannabis for terminally ill patients. The TGA currently has two access pathways in which Australian medical practitioners may prescribe cannabinoid medicines. In order [...]

NEWS Mandatory reporting rules under the microscope The JMO Forum held in June revealed changes are needed to help overworked, underpaid and burnt out junior doctors. MANDATORY REPORTING rules could be revamped in an effort to encourage doctors to seek help for mental health issues. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard agreed to review the rules [...]

EVENT Medical Careers Expo With an expanded program and an exciting line up of speakers, this year’s Medical Careers Expo was an important opportunity for medical students and interns to gain valuable insight into planning their medical careers. THE ANNUAL AMA (NSW) and ASMOF (NSW) Careers Expo held 6 May attracted more than 200 students [...]