Topics
Ethics
Government action on diabetes prevention: time to try something new
Four priority areas where government regulation could strengthen Australia’s response
Jenny C Kaldor BA(Hons), LLB(Hons), MSc · Roger S Magnusson BA/LLB(Hons), PhD, GradDipManagingDevelopment · Stephen Colagiuri MB BS, FRACP
Part of the fabric and mostly right: an ethnography of ethics in clinical practice
Would clinical ethics support services be useful in Australian hospitals?
Evan Doran BA, PhD · Jennifer Fleming BA, MHA, PhD · Christopher Jordens BA (Hons), MPH, PhD · Cameron L Stewart BEc, LLB(Hons), PhD · Julie Letts MBioeth · Ian H Kerridge MPhil, FRACP, FRCPA
Talking About The Smokes: a large-scale, community-based participatory research project
Objective: To describe the Talking About The Smokes (TATS) project according to the World Health Organization guiding principles for conducting community-based participatory research (PR) involving indigenous peoples, to assist others planning large-scale PR projects. Design, setting and participants: The TATS project was initiated in Australia in 2010 as part of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project, and surveyed a representative sample of 2522 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults to assess the impact of tobacco control policies. The PR process of the TATS project, which aimed to build partnerships to create equitable conditions for knowledge production, was mapped and summarised onto a framework adapted from the WHO principles. Main outcome measures: Processes describing consultation and approval, partnerships and research agreements, communication, funding, ethics and consent, data and benefits of the research. Results: The TATS project involved baseline and follow-up surveys conducted in 34 Aboriginal community-controlled health services and one Torres Strait community. Consistent with the WHO PR principles, the TATS project built on community priorities and strengths through strategic partnerships from project inception, and demonstrated the value of research agreements and trusting relationships to foster shared decision making, capacity building and a commitment to Indigenous data ownership. Conclusions: Community-based PR methodology, by definition, needs adaptation to local settings and priorities. The TATS project demonstrates that large-scale research can be participatory, with strong Indigenous community engagement and benefits.
Sophia Couzos FAFPHM, FACRRM, FRACGP · Anna K Nicholson GDipPH, BPhty(Hons) · Jennifer M Hunt MPH, FAFPHM, PhD · Maureen E Davey MB BS, FAFPHM · Josephine K May · Pele T Bennet BHSc · Darren W Westphal MPH · David P Thomas MB BS, PhD, FAFPHM
The scourge of managerialism and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
The managerialist organisational model has penetrated deeply into our institutions, with destructive consequences
Paul A Komesaroff MB BS, PhD, FRACP · Ian H Kerridge MPhil, FRACP, FRCPA · David Isaacs MD, FRACP, FRCPCH · Peter M Brooks MD, FRACP, FAFRM
A minimalist legislative solution to the problem of euthanasia
A simple legislative change would permit voluntary euthanasia without ignoring ethical and community concerns
Paul A Komesaroff BSc(Hons), PhD, FRACP · Stephen Charles QC
Reappraising community treatment orders — can there be consensus?
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
Consent, capacity and the right to say no
The pitfalls in assessing patients’ decision-making capacity
Peter D Bastian MB BS, MPH, FRACP · Adeleen Eng MB BS · Linley A Denson MPsych, PhD · Lynn Ward PhD
Let children cry
In reply: Evidence is needed that medical intervention does more good than harm for less than severe impairment
Jon N Jureidini MB BS, PhD, FRANZCP
First use of creatine hydrochloride in premanifest Huntington disease
A potentially important option for patients with Huntington disease that warrants further study
Chris Tuckfield MB BS(Hons), MPhil
Firearms, mental illness, dementia and the clinician
n/a
Anne P F Wand MB BS, MPsychiatry, FRANZCP · Carmelle Peisah MB BS, MD, FRANZCP · Julie-Anne Strukovski RN · Henry Brodaty MD, DSc, FRANZCP
Is research ethics regulation really killing people?
Not substantially, but we have strong obligations to reduce delays and increase efficiency
David Hunter PhD
Disclosing genetic information to at-risk relatives: new Australian privacy principles, but uniformity still elusive
The need for a uniform system across Australia
Margaret F A Otlowski LLB(Hons), PhD
The G20, human health and sustainability: an interview with Jeffrey D Sachs
We have a duty to consider the health impacts of climate change
Colin D Butler BMed, MSc(Epidemiol), PhD · Peter W Tait MB BS, FRACGP, MClimChng
Are potential organ donors missed on general wards? A 6-month audit of hospital deaths
Recruiting more potential organ donors would not result in a large increase in organ donor numbers
Jonathan J Gatward MB ChB, FRCA, FCICM · Michael J O’Leary MD, FRCA, FCICM · Myra Sgorbini MN(Hon) · Paul R Phipps PhD, FRACP, FCICM
Doctors' knowledge of the law on withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining medical treatment
Acknowledging the role of general physicians
Nicholas D Buckmaster MB BS, FRACP · Mark Forbes MB ChB, FCP(SA), FRACP
Doctors' knowledge of the law on withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining medical treatment
Surveying general physicians would be valuable
Ben White LLB(Hons), DPhil · Lindy Willmott BCom LLB, LLM, PhD · Colleen Cartwright PhD, MPH, BSW(Hons) · Malcolm H Parker MB BS, MHMedLaw, MD · Gail Williams MSc, MSc(Lond), PhD
Meeting end-of-life care needs for patients in custody
Implementing EOL care policies in prisons
Megan Kendall MB BS, BSc, BAppSc(Hons) · Luke Streitberg MB BS, MFM · Michael H Levy MB BS, MPH, FAFPHM
Treatment for gender dysphoria in children: the new legal, ethical and clinical landscape
Understanding recent legal developments will help doctors negotiate the complexities of consent
Malcolm K Smith PhD, LLM, LLB(Hons) · Ben Mathews PhD, LLB, BA
What can we do to help Australians die the way they want to?
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
Ethical challenges for doctors working in immigration detention
An example of how boycotting the system can achieve result
Robert J Davies MB BS, FRACS
Ethical challenges for doctors working in immigration detention
The case against immigration detention is irrefutable
on behalf of the J'Accuse Coalition and Doctors for Refugees*
Medical-setting deaths and the coroner: laws, penalties and guidelines
Developing coroners’ guidelines in all jurisdictions would help health practitioners comply with reporting obligations
Sarah Middleton BA/LLB(Hons), PhD, GDLP · Michael D Buist FRACP, FCICM, MD
Firearms, mental illness, dementia and the clinician
Doctors should screen patients with dementia for firearm possession and assess capacity to own and use guns safely
Anne P F Wand MB BS, MPsychiatry, FRANZCP · Carmelle Peisah MB BS, MD, FRANZCP · Julie-Anne Strukovski RN · Henry Brodaty MD, DSc, FRANZCP
Should the legal age for buying alcohol be raised to 21 years?
In reply: The supporting evidence is strong
John W Toumbourou · Kypros Kypri · Sandra C Jones
