Volume 217 Issue 7

Given the unique geographic, socio-economic and health care system considerations, Australasian-specific research evaluating trauma care verification is essential

for the Trauma Care Verification and Quality Improvement Writing Group †

Seafarers’ access to health care is limited, pre-employment screening is variable, and delayed presentations to Australian facilities are common in this vulnerable patient group

John J Bockxmeer · Nilukshi Ranwala

Coordinated systemic change and enhanced access to care are needed to improve doctors’ wellbeing

Chanaka Wijeratne · Margaret P Kay · Mark H Arnold · Jeffrey CL Looi

Health practitioners have the opportunity to contribute their expertise to help reduce the health consequences of climate disasters across the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery phases of disaster management

Sotiris Vardoulakis · Veronica Matthews · Ross S Bailie · Wenbiao Hu · Luis Salvador‐Carulla · Alexandra L Barratt · Cordia Chu

A 21-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a 2-week history of thoracic back pain

Royston Ponraj · Jenna Langfield · Louise Wong · Ian Kerridge · William S Stevenson

The changes in the characteristics of the pandemic and in our health care responses have been anything but gradual

Theresa Jacques · Kush Deshpande

The Being Equally Well policy roadmap seeks to end the neglect of physical health for people living with serious mental illness

Rosemary V Calder · James A Dunbar · Maximilian P Courten

Higher in-hospital mortality during the third wave may reflect the virulence of Delta or the higher number of ICU admissions

Husna Begum · Ary S Neto · Patricia Alliegro · Tessa Broadley · Tony Trapani · Lewis T Campbell · Allen C Cheng · Winston Cheung · D James Cooper · Simon J Erickson · Craig J French · Edward Litton · Richard McAllister · Alistair Nichol · Annamaria Palermo · Mark P Plummer · Hannah Rotherham · Mahesh Ramanan · Benjamin Reddi · Claire Reynolds · Steven AR Webb · Andrew A Udy · Aidan Burrell

Despite being the largest cause of death and disability after physical trauma, national data are not currently available for Australia

Gerard M O'Reilly · Kate Curtis · Yesul Kim · Biswadev Mitra · Kate Hunter · Courtney Ryder · Delia V Hendrie · Nick Rushworth · Afsana Afroz · Shane D'Angelo · Jin Tee · Mark C Fitzgerald

Evidence-based guideline recommendations are not always followed in the ED

Kevin Chu · Anne‐Maree Kelly · Frances Kinnear · Gerben Keijzers · Sinan Kamona

Eight drug treatments are currently recommended for people who do not require supplemental oxygen and six for those who do

Heath White · Steve J McDonald · Bridget Barber · Joshua Davis · Lucy Burr · Priya Nair · Sutapa Mukherjee · Britta Tendal · Julian Elliott · Steven McGloughlin · Tari Turner

To the Editor: The concepts presented by Coman and colleagues1 parallel international trends within anatomical societies, where attitudes on human remains used for educational purposes are under scrutiny.2 Illuminating issues around legacy collections, and pressing for further clarity, transparency and appropriate cultural and ethical solutions, is important for the proper treatment of these precious resources. It is also necessary given recent events that have raised concerns within the public about how human remains and anatomical collections are treated under the guise of education.3 We strongly support the points made by Coman et al around development of repatriation policies for privately held bones, but we respectfully suggest additional considerations. The suggestion “Medical ethicists assert that in the absence of consent, anatomical specimens … should be destroyed”1 is not congruent with current suggestions and practice.4 Anatomical collections that have no provenance or consent are often used as teaching resources and represent the tangible legacies of histories of this field of science. As such, they serve the additional educational purpose of eliciting discussions on contemporary ethical and professional practice.5 There are also benefits associated with using real bones as opposed to three‐dimensional or plastic copies that do not retain the same weight, detail or nuanced anatomical features. Arguments do exist for disposition of unconsented collections, but these should be considered against the educational value these remains deliver and the social, ethical and cultural concerns around their ongoing use. In proposing consultation across various groups to clarify appropriate practice around “managing the legacy of human bone use in education,“1 we suggest it is necessary to include other specific interest groups to ensure community‐appropriate practices are developed. It is essential that community input is acquired, with indigenous representatives contributing knowledge and perspective. In addition, input from organisations that contribute expertise specific to national and international standards and practice are necessary. This should include local organisations, the Australian Institute of Anatomical Sciences and the Australian and New Zealand Association of Clinical Anatomists, and globally, the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists ethics committee. Such broad input is necessary to ensure guidelines are fit for purpose in a global education community.

Jon Cornwall · Sabine Hildebrandt · Thomas Champney

To the Editor: Zhao and colleagues1 recently published an article highlighting the improved life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in the Northern Territory over the past 20years.1 This is both important and welcomed. It reflects consistent and concerted work of countless individuals and organisations that are contributing to the improved health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in the NT, despite limited resources to do so. It makes sense that we are beginning, albeit slowly, to see these inroads. One example of contributing to the positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men’s health in the NT is the evolution of the Darwin Men’s Inter‐Agency Network (DMIAN). DMIAN is a network of men from across government and the non‐government organisation sector to collaboratively advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in Darwin.2 DMIAN has enabled men’s health researchers to better understand and act on the wants and needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in the community from the perspective that matters most: their own. As Zhao and colleagues1 point out, there is still a long way to go with improving the life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, which sits 15.4years behind non‐Indigenous men. In addition, as the life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men increases, so too does that of non‐Indigenous men.1 So if we are to close the gap, we cannot afford to lose momentum on targeted action, particularly that relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander male health and wellbeing.3,4 There is still a need for this to be a recognised priority in the NT and nationally, and for primary health care and social services in the NT to be resourced appropriately. In particular, the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and Aboriginal medical services have a key role to play and should be funded to develop, implement and evaluate health and social and emotional wellbeing programs for male clients, as this is severely lacking and is ultimately hampering progress in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander male health and wellbeing outcomes.4 While the National Men’s Health Strategy identifies Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men as a priority population,5 we also need substantially more investment in research and evaluation to find new innovate solutions.6 We hope the important work being done by individuals in health, justice, education and other social services sectors continues to be enabled to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men for the benefit of their communities and future generations.

Kootsy Canuto · Karla J Canuto · Jason Bonson · James Smith

In reply

Yuejen Zhao · Shu Qin Li

Med J Aust 2022; 217 (7 Suppl).