Perspectives

Community treatment orders have become standard practice without serious consideration of the underlying research base

Steve Kisely MD, PhD, FRANZCP · Richard O’Reilly MB, FRCPC

Edited extract of an article by surgeon Major John Corbin, first published in 1916

John Corbin MRCS(Eng), LRCP(Lond)

GPs, inevitably involved in disasters, should be appropriately engaged in response and recovery systems

Penelope L Burns BMed, MPHTM · Peter J Aitken MB BS, FACEM, EMDM · Beverley Raphael MB BS, MD, FRANZCP

Nuclear weapons abolition is a medical imperative

Susan J Wareham OAM, MB BS

UN member states face tough decisions for health in crafting sustainable development agenda

Claire E Brolan MA, LLB(Hons), BA · Peter S Hill MB BS, FAFPHM, PhD

Equal treatment for equal need is not enough — positive discrimination for disadvantaged groups is also required

Kim M Dalziel BHealthSc(Hons), MHealthEcon, PhD · Jeffrey R Richardson PhD

Attempts to discredit public health advocates are increasing

Mike Daube AO, BA(Hons), DSci(Hons)

The many benefits for rural doctors and patients suggest it is time for telehealth to be part of routine clinical practice

Sabe Sabesan BM BS, FRACP · Jenny Kelly BN, MPH, PhD

New research on how enterococci become drug-resistant suggests that hospital practice should evolve in line with our new insights

Surendra Karki MSc, MScIH, PhD · Karin Leder FRACP, PhD, MPH · Allen C Cheng FRACP, MPH, PhD

An expansion of clinical infrastructure for early psychosis intervention offers new possibilities for research, treatment and service development

On behalf of the Australian Early Psychosis Research Network Writing Group

Paying attention to lessons already learned will improve mental health care for the future

Kathleen M Griffiths BSc(Hons), PhD · John Mendoza BEd, GradDipHealthEd · Bradley Carron-Arthur BChPsych(Hons)

Creating momentum for clinicians to avoid health practices of limited value

Gerry O’Callaghan MB BCh BAO, FFARCSI, FCICM · Hendrika Meyer MB ChB, FACEM, AFCHSM · Adam G Elshaug MPH, PhD

Empirical antibiotic therapy that turns out to be unnecessary, on review, can (and should) be stopped immediately

Gwendolyn L Gilbert MD, FRACP, MBioethics

While Australia already conducts world-class research, future global leadership requires a major funding investment

Anthony L Cunningham AO, MD, FRACP, FRCPA · Teresa Anderson BAppSc, PhD · Christine C Bennett AO, MB BS, MPaed, FRACP · Brendan S Crabb AC, PhD · Gareth Goodier MB ChB, FRACMA, FAFPHM · Douglas Hilton PhD, BSc(Hons), BSc · Elizabeth Koff BSc, DipNutr · Joe Trapani MB BS, FRACP, PhD

New South Wales data highlight areas for improvement in asthma management

Peter van Asperen MD, FRACP, FThorSoc

Health authorities need to review recommendations on how to choose and use mosquito repellents

Cameron E Webb PhD, BSc(Hons)

Recognising and responding with both our strengths and vulnerabilities to help get through times of distress

Beverley Raphael MB BS, MD, FRANZCP · Penelope Burns BMed, MPHTM

A better understanding of patient safety threats and incidents is needed to inform preventive action

Lesley M Russell BSc(Hons), BA, PhD · Paresh Dawda MB BS, FRCGP(UK), FRACGP

We need to legislate medical use

David G Penington DM, FRCP, FRACP

Planning and community-based palliative care can make it possible for more people to die at home

Hal Swerissen BAppSc, BA(Hons), MAppPsych · Stephen J Duckett PhD, DSc, FASSA

Despite inherent challenges, high-quality antenatal health care is provided in immigration detention centres

Mark Parrish FRACGP, MHA, FRACMA · Anthony Renshaw MRCS(Ed), MFMLM, MD(Res) · Gregory J Duncombe CSCT(FMP), FRANZCOG, CMFM · Paul J Bretz MB BS, FRANZCOG · William J Milford MB BS(Hon), FRANZCOG

How to ensure evidence-based and efficient use of pathology services

Denis Spelman FRACP, FRCPA, MPH

Is the copayment proposed by the federal government really a bad idea?

Michael Keane BM BS, FANZCA

The limited availability of primaquine puts returned travellers at risk

Richard S Bradbury PhD, FFS(RCPA), FASM · Gemma Robertson BMedSci, MB BS · Robert E Norton MD, FAFPHM FRCPA · Andrew W Taylor-Robinson PhD, FRCPath, FACTM

Meeting standards in disaster response

Nicholas R Coatsworth MB BS(Hons), MIntPH, FRACP