Editorials

Best-practice care and population health actions now will bring significant benefit in the long-term

Paul J Torzillo MB BS, FRACP, FCICM · Anne B Chang MB BS, PhD, FRACP

The palliative care schedule is coming of age as evaluation data become available

David C Currow BMed, MPH, FRACP · Lloyd N Sansom BSc, PhD, FPS

The IPCC's latest assessment highlights risks, ethical challenges and planning needs

Anthony J McMichael MB BS, PhD, FTSE

Hand hygiene in public hospitals has improved, but remains suboptimal, especially before touching patients

Gwendolyn L Gilbert MD, FRACP, FRCPA

Do Australian trends in cardiovascular disease have lessons for other countries?

Peter L Thompson AM, MD, FRACP, FACC

An urgent imperative to close the gap

Robert M Parker

Australian researchers are proving the usefulness of data linkage, but their access to data is hindered

Ian N Olver MB BS, MD, PhD

Pain medicine needs to be clear about what can and cannot be achieved

Michael A Ashby MD, FRACP, FFPMANZCA

Refining our approach to immunisation can further improve disease prevention

Peter B McIntyre PhD, FRACP, FAFPHM · Terence M Nolan PhD, FRACP, FAFPHM

Crisis provides urgency and focus for coordinated action to improve regional health and development

Suman S Majumdar MPH · Ben J Marais MD, PhD · Justin T Denholm MPH · Warwick J Britton PhD, FRACP, FRCPA,

Herpes zoster is a painful, disabling condition so the recent development of preventive vaccines is welcome

Anthony L Cunningham AO, MD, FRACP · John C B Litt MB BS, FRACGP, PhD · C Raina MacIntyre FRACP, FAFPHM, PhD

World Kidney Day 2014 will promote discerning management for older patients

David C Harris MD, BS, FRACP · John Feehally DM, FRCP

Many health-related “massive open online courses” have been created by some of the world’s best universities

Richard F Heller MD, FRACP, FAFPHM

Long distances to advanced cardiac care are an Australian reality. Optimal access to timely care must be a national objective.

Gerard E Carroll AM, MB BS(Hons), FRACP FCSANZ · Peter L Thompson AM, FRACP, FACC, MBA

Despite the promise of human genomics, very few successful treatments have emerged

Robyn L Ward MB BS(Hons), FRACP, PhD

Off-label prescribing (to patient groups or for indications not listed in a medicine's product information) is okay if supported by evidence

J Paul Seale MB BS, PhD, FRACP

Consider the evidence before prescribing medications off-label and use non-pharmacological treatments where possible

Ian B Hickie MD

In the interests of children and families, doctors need to know how to recognise and deal with signs of child abuse

R Kim Oates MD, DSc, FRACP

A patient’s right to privacy must be balanced with the information needs and safety concerns of others

Christopher J Ryan MB BS, MHL, FRANZCP · Sascha Callaghan LLB, MBioeth · Matthew M Large BSc, MB BS, FRANZCP

Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers in closed detention causes ongoing mental health issues

Gillian Triggs LLB, LLM, PhD

Beyond the medical boundaries of clinic and hospital to the fields of public health and welfare

John D Hamilton MB BS, FRCP(UK), FRCP(Can)

New recommendations will hopefully help standardise care of people bitten by snakes in Australia

Mark Little FACEM, MPH

Prevention remains the best approach to lung cancer, but ensuring best practice through access to continually updated guidelines for treating patients who already have the disease will improve outcomes.

Ian N Olver MD, PhD, FRACP

Low vitamin D levels may increase the risk of reactivation of TB, but there is relatively little evidence supporting the use of vitamin D supplementation.

A Stewart Truswell AO, MD, FRCP