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24.01.2022 ABC Report, 8 July 2020, By Bridget Judd The ‘silent’ statistics Excerpts from the report: For every death by suicide, as many as 30 others attempt to end their life. Australia has a suicide problem it seems we can all agree on that but when it comes to solutions, the verdict isn’t so clear....Continue reading

24.01.2022 The powerless suffer and the powerful carry on amid Covid-19 By TIM WOODRUFF | On 30 July 2020 Covid-19 presents us with an opportunity. A more equal society, more resilient to the challenges ahead, or a society ruled by power imbalances, struggling to cope with both natural and man-made disasters.... https://johnmenadue.com/tim-woodruff-the-powerless-suffer-/

23.01.2022 The Sydney Morning Herald report, 17 June 2020 Doctors have their say on Royal Perth Hospital surgeon and specialist 'generational war' Excerpts from the report:... Many doctors who responded to the story identified themselves as part of the "younger generation" of physicians. "Bullying in the major hospitals is widespread and normalised," one wrote. The senior physicians said an "unfair and broken" complaints system meant the welfare of patients could be put at risk in what AMA (WA) president Andrew Miller described as a "clash of generations". "I am a senior doctor in the system and there still are plenty of personality disordered narcissists in senior positions, to whom bullying is a way of life," another said. Lawyer Jaswinder Sekhon, who is the principal of law firm Goldman & Co and represents doctors caught up in the complaints system, said the complaints system needed urgent reform. "If we delay such reforms it is adverse and impacting the ability of doctors, and the motivation of doctors to provide services to patients," he said. "Doctors are also scared to speak out in case of being targeted as if they upset any older generation they can be the victims of investigation," he said. He said medical boards made interim decisions "to protect the public" if there was a "reasonable belief" allegations could be true. This meant "even if the facts are not true, they are not required to be true for them to make a decision which effectively destroys the livelihood of the doctor". #bullying #healthreform #medicalboard https://www.smh.com.au//doctors-have-their-say-on-royal-pe

22.01.2022 17 June 2020. Sydney Morning Herald news Peak health regulator to ask for protection for healthcare complainants By Rachel Clun... Excerpts taken from the report: "Australia's peak medical watchdog will ask the federal government to adopt the NSW law making it an offence to threaten or intimidate a person out of continuing to make a medical complaint." "It comes after a review by the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner into confidentiality safeguards for people making complaints about healthcare practitioners." "The Australian Healthcare Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) asked the ombudsman to conduct the review in late 2018, after South Australian GP Dr Brian Holder was sentenced to 15 years jail with 10 years non-parole for the attempted murder of pharmacist Kelly Akenhurst." "Ms Akehurst had made a complaint about Dr Holder's prescribing practices, and ombudsman Richelle McCausland said in her report the judge in that case believed that complaint was a motive for the attempted murder." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AHReform's commentary: It's common knowledge that any form of intimidation and threats of harm towards any individual is unlawful in Australia. The case with Dr Brian Holder was dealt with appropriately in the criminal jurisdiction. So what is the point for AHPRA seeking the government to amend the regulatory laws so that this kind of criminal behavior is also an offence under the health practitioner regulatory laws? If the motive of AHPRA is to allow them to keep the identity of notifiers anonymous from the health practitioner under investigation, would it not erode the principle of natural justice and procedural fairness when the defendant could not verify the source of the complaint or validate the authenticity of the claims? What are the steps in place to prevent or stop unscrupulous individuals from making use of the regulators as a tool of harassment and bullying against innocent health practitioners? Are health practitioners being treated as guilty until proven innocent? AHReform has obtained numerous reports from victims of bullying who shared their horrific experience while under investigation and nothing was done by the regulators to address complaints that are frivolous, vexatious, shamming and misleading. Are the regulators protecting people who are making false and misleading claims against innocent health practitioners? By concealing the identity of the notifier, the regulators will perpetuate the injustice felt by the victims of false complaints. It is this deep sense of injustice that can cause serious mental health problems on the victims of bullying, driving them into depression, retaliation or suicide. AHReform will continue our campaign to stop bullying culture in the health industry. Leave your comment here or email [email protected] https://www.smh.com.au//peak-health-regulator-to-ask-for-p

22.01.2022 Newly Updated Medical Code of Conduct, to be effective from 1 October 2020. The Medical Board of Australia has released its updated professional code of conduct for all medical practitioners. AHReform welcomes this progress....Continue reading

20.01.2022 The courage of speaking up in the wake of racism and injustice. Let's listen to this British MP speaking eloquently to the prime minister in parliament to address racism. For any effective reform to succeed, the victims and the bystanders must garner the courage and energy to confront the government and its agencies to acknowledge and address the problem, and not continue to let them fan bullying and discriminatory sentiments among its ruling members while paying lip service... to its victims and the public. The Chair of the Medical Board of Australia has vowed to stop bullying culture within the profession, and has called for zero tolerance to bullying. Lip service? AHReform has created a platform for victims and bystanders to come together to support our leaders and advocates to confront the government, the Medical Board and its proxy regulators to address the widespread bullying culture plaguing our health industry. AHReform president Dr Tony Pun has written to our prime minister Hon Scott Morrison about this important issue. Without the support from you, the professionals and the public, our campaign to stop bullying and harassment by the privileged ruling class will not achieve the reform we all need to save our health industry. Leave you comment, share your message or email AHReform on [email protected] Thank you for your ongoing support. #bullying #injustice #racism #discrimination #prejudice #vilification #AHPRA #Medical_Board #health_reform https://www.facebook.com/JeremyCorbynMP/videos/619597425233590/

20.01.2022 The Age, August 14, 2020 'I've been unlucky': Health Minister feels the heat By Henrietta Cook...Continue reading

20.01.2022 News from WA Today: 15 June 2020 ‘Generational war’ rages at RPH with dozens of senior Perth doctors accused of bullying The news reported that: "WAtoday has obtained a list of 20 Royal Perth Hospital doctors who have been investigated, suspended, banned from treating patients or who have quit in exasperation over claims of screaming, swearing and inappropriate behaviour they say were innocuous incidents or never happened."... "Among them are general, trauma and plastic surgeons, urologists, anaesthesiologists and emergency specialists." "They claim they have been deliberately targeted, tormented, harassed and bullied out of jobs by administrators using heavy-handed processes." "But one specialist, who resigned instead of fighting accusations he shouted at junior doctors, said stamping out bullying was their "big thing", but in the process administration had become bullies themselves." 'Outright lies' "The worst allegations are the ones where they just outright lie," he said. "There should be a parliamentary inquiry into what has actually happened to the senior consultants in different hospitals and how they've been treated," one doctor said." "If it was an economic decision [to get rid of doctors], then they can be treated in a much more kindly manner and if they are reaching retirement age they can be offered whatever is appropriate." "But to target them, to torment them, to harass them, to bully them is not the appropriate procedure." "The doctors all spoke of the personal and professional costs of dealing with the complaints against them." "It's psychological torture for a lot of people," a specialist said." -------------------------------------- Message from AHReform: If you have similar experience at RPH or your local hospital on bullying by the hospital administrators, we urge that you contact AHReform for a confidential submission. AHReform plan to investigate bullying cases and report them to the authorities to address this endemic bullying culture. An inquiry by the government is urgently needed. We want to know why a policy of 'zero tolerance to bullying and inappropriate behaviour' has failed the health professionals so badly. #bullying #hospital #health_industry #senior_doctors #health_crisis https://www.watoday.com.au//generational-war-rages-at-rph-

20.01.2022 ABC Report, 28 July 2020 Medicare funding changes could stop patients from accessing lifesaving care, GPs warn By political reporter Stephanie Dalzell Key points:... Medicare changes will mean GPs no longer get a rebate for interpreting a routine heart procedure GPs say the change is "highly insulting" and could lead to patients not getting care The Federal Opposition is calling for the changes to be reversed 'Insulting' Medicare changes could stop patients from accessing lifesaving care, GPs warn http://www.abc.net.au//medicare-changes-to-heart-/12496894

18.01.2022 ABC news 8 June 2020 George Floyd's death triggers painful memories for families who have been through it all before 7.30 / By Jason Om... This report resonate well with AHReform's observation of healthcare regulators using similar tactics like the police against its targeted victims. Excerpts taken from the report: "It keeps happening over and over again so the only change would be changing legislation," she [Emerald Garner] said. She said racism also needed to be addressed. "It's these racist cops that are in the police department, that see no value in African American lives," she said. "We need to get out the bad police officers and uplift the good ones." Four officers have been charged over George Floyd's death. The officer who held his knee on George Floyd's neck, Derek Chauvin, now faces the upgraded charge of second-degree unintentional murder. But few police have been convicted by grand juries over such incidents. Maureen McGough from New York University said the police often have a defence of "reasonable belief". "If you look back at the situation and if you think the officer had a reasonable belief that they were in danger, if they had a reasonable belief that the force was necessary, then they will likely not be convicted," she said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The laws that govern healthcare regulation also allow regulators to use 'reasonable belief' to take any action against the healthcare practitioners that can have detrimental effects on the practitioners' reputation, health and livelihood, and doing so in the name of protecting public health or safety without any requirement to substantiate the evidence beyond reasonable doubt. Without addressing these regulatory laws, there is little hope of natural justice for the targeted victims. To address this serious issue, a concerted effort is needed by all, both healthcare practitioners and the public. Being a quiet bystander will not change this unjust regulatory process. #racism #injustice #AHPRA #reasonable_belief 'The land of the free? Maybe if you're white': George Floyd's death triggers painful memories for mourning families http://www.abc.net.au//george-floyd-death-trigger/12325864

17.01.2022 16 June 2020: ABC 7.30 Report Coronavirus pandemic leaves hundreds of medical practices on verge of collapse By Nadia Daly Excerpts from the report:... Dr Boulton's biggest complaint is that the Government's Medicare rebate is too low. "The rebates haven't gone up much at all for the last two decades," she told 7.30. "It hasn't kept up with inflation and it hasn't kept up with the increased costs in rent, insurance." 'We are struggling': COVID-19 pandemic leaves hundreds of medical practices on verge of collapse. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AHReform's comment: Medical practice is very costly to run. To make healthcare affordable, the government has to reduce the burdens carried by our health providers. Huge expenses to maintain expensive medical equipment, IT facilities, insurance, administrative compliance, staff wages, medicolegal defence etc will only drive cost up. Current Medicare rebates are woefully inadequate for health providers to rely on bulk billing, and more patients will have to pay a gap which will increase further if the government fails to address this problem. In addition, overzealous regulation and bureaucracy can disrupt medical practice and drive cost higher, resulting in a dysfunctional healthcare system. Health reform is urgently needed. It's in the public interest that our government takes this report seriously. Please support AHReform mission by sharing our message to increase public awareness. http://www.abc.net.au//coronavirus-leaves-medical/12359282

16.01.2022 ABC News, 27 June 2020 Inside the 'culture of silence' that plagues the law By Hayley Gleeson... This news opens up our eyes about the potential serious misconduct in the judiciary institution. Question is whether the allegations are true or just another witchhunt campaign against a prominent figure to name and shame him. These days, the public has been seeing scandal after scandal in almost every powerful institution that seriously erodes public trust and confidence. The Catholic church with Cardinal Pell's jailing by the District Court for molesting the choir boys, then acquitted by the High Court; major health institutions' and regulators' systemic bullying of doctors and nurses; the Police force in the US and other democratic countries for brutality against ethnic minorities; and now the law institution. This kind of bullying and harassment by either a prominent figure or by a group of conspirators is clouding public perception of who we can trust, which claims are real, which are fake, who are the real perpetrators and who are the real victims. It now becomes more apparent than ever that it's not just health reform that we need, but a broader reform in almost every major institution because bullying, harassment and discrimination is so rife that it rocks the peace and stability of our society. Above all, who can the public trust? Discrimination based on gender, race, age and religion must be addressed and urgent reform is needed to avoid social upheaval by the silent victims who no longer want to tolerate anymore. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Excerpts taken from this news: "The judicial system depends on public confidence, on broad legitimacy," Dr McIntyre said. "Judicial decisions are not just about resolving disputes, they're about shaping the type of society we want. So if events like this are seen to be brushed aside it can be massively corrosive to that confidence. Then there's what Dr McIntyre interprets as Australia's "taboo" about criticising judges. "They're treated almost as a priesthood that their decisions are always correct, that there is no possibility for error and I think that is dangerous because it hides the fact they're humans making human decisions." #metoomovement #BLM #AllLivesMatter #reform #harassment #legalprofession Inside the 'culture of silence' that plagues the law http://www.abc.net.au//dyson-heydon-sexual-harass/12395386

14.01.2022 The Science Behind the Coronavirus, Series I&II This is the most informative video I have seen so far without the usual politcal BS but just straight science. Please share this with a friend to stop panic! ... Message from AHReform president Dr Anthony Pun. #covid19 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddlRvqhGdPk

13.01.2022 Doctors 'bullied' by hospital administration for asking to wear masks By Dana McCauley of Sydney Morning Herald, July 6, 2020 https://www.smh.com.au//doctors-bullied-by-hospital-admini

07.01.2022 The Age Mikakos 'wasn't shown' doctors' email warning over hotel quarantine By Michael Fowler... August 18, 2020 Excerpts from the news report: Health Minister Jenny Mikakos says she was not shown emails sent to her department by Victoria's top doctors in April that warned about problems with infection control in the state's hotel quarantine program. Questioned in Parliament on Tuesday about the emails, which were sent a fortnight after the hotel scheme began, she said they had been read by a Department of Health and Human Services staffer but not passed on to her. Emails from the Australian Medical Association's Victorian branch on April 15 advised the DHHS, based on feedback from health professionals working in quarantine hotels, that better personal protective equipment should be provided to staff. Ms Crozier called Ms Mikakos' comments a joke. "The minister is very happy to blame others but not take responsibility for her own leadership and responsibility," Ms Crozier told Parliament. Amid debate over whether Parliament should be sitting at all and with the lower house not meeting this week, Liberal Democrat MP Tim Quilty, who represents northern Victoria, said he valued his role of scrutinising the government above Professor Sutton's guidance. "This is my job, to represent the people of northern Victoria ... it's not the job of the Chief Health Officer to tell us not to come today and the government should not be telling us not to sit," he said. "We are here to hold you to account." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AHReform's commentary: If a health practitioner overlooked a crucial medical report and failed to act promptly for one patient, resulting in health mishap in that patient, the practitioner could be liable for damages caused by his/her negligence, as well as receiving disciplinary action by the administrators and/or regulators for putting the public health and safety at risk. Now, we have a state health minister failing to read the emails from the AMA, and failing to take prompt measures to protect the public, resulting in second Covid-19 outbreak that kills many people and put the entire state under lockdown. The irony is this state health minister can defy parliament in refusing to answer questions, and can refuse to take full responsibility and to accept calls for her resignation. The sad reality is that health practitioners can be disciplined or suspended by the administrators and regulators on 'reasonable belief' following unfounded allegations, yet no amount of evidence seemed enough to make these politicians and bureaucrats accountable for their gross mistakes. What more can we expect from our health ministry and their departments? #victoriahealth #COVID19 #quarantinefailure #ama #mikakos https://www.theage.com.au//mikakos-wasn-t-shown-doctors-em

07.01.2022 AUSTRALIAN DOCTOR NEWS 5th November 2019 By Siobhan Calafiore AHPRA admits it has a trust problem... A survey has revealed broad confusion about the purpose of the regulator. Only half of doctors trust the Medical Board of Australia, and even fewer of them have confidence in AHPRA, a survey commissioned by the regulator suggests. Doctors complained about the medical board’s focus on name and shame, lengthy delays in decision-making and arbitrary decisions without proper consultations, the researchers said. ... https://www.ausdoc.com.au//ahpra-admits-it-has-trust-probl

02.01.2022 August 17, 2020 Doctors warned Victoria's health department about hotel infection control dangers before coronavirus spread Four Corners... By Pat McGrath, Stephanie March, Naomi Selvaratnam, Lucy Carter and Laura Gartry AMA Victorian President Julian Rait said he was disappointed the department did not respond to the concerns raised about the hotel quarantine program.(Four Corners: Daniel Fermer) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AHReform's commentary When doctors' advice is being ignored by the state health department, our community has every reason to be deeply concerned for our public health and safety. AHReform supports the public inquiry into this serious mishap that caused a second wave of COVID-19 outbreak. Many lives have been lost or seriously threatened. People in Victoria are suffering because of state health department's failure to properly quarantine those at risk individuals and to protect our frontline workers. Our community's health would be in danger when health bureaucrats, administrators and regulators aren't properly trained to manage health and aren't willing to listen to the majority of doctors' view. What we are seeing is the government selecting a handful of health advisers to tell them what they want to hear, and ignore the advice of the AMA and other like-minded organizations. For more information and discussion, feel free to contact AHReform and join our mission to achieve positive health reform. AHReform's email: [email protected] #COVID19 #Victoria #Melbourne #AMA #victoriahealth #quarantinefailure Doctors warned Victoria's health department about hotel infection control dangers before coronavirus spread http://www.abc.net.au//four-corners-cononavirus-a/12550832

02.01.2022 ABC News 7 June 2020 Black Lives Matter rallies held across Australia to protest against mistreatment and deaths of Indigenous people This is a public protest against the systemic racism and injustice in Australia against our indigenous people. It is relevant to all Australians if we are going to live harmoniously in a multicultural society. ... Health reform is part of this political awareness because health regulation affects us all. Healthcare practitioners and consumers can be affected by racism and injustice in so many ways that it is morally wrong if we choose to ignore the elephant in the room and be a bystander while the victims and their communities continue to suffer in vain. No matter what racial background you are from, protesting against racism and injustice matters to us all. We urge those people who are from a more privileged racial group, who are dominating the Australian government and law-enforcement agencies to have the courage and wisdom to stop the racially-motivated prejudice and discrimination against coloured people. Hearing supportive comments from you to support this campaign against racism and injustice is a good start. #justice #racism #AHPRA Tens of thousands turn out for Black Lives Matter protests across Australia http://www.abc.net.au//black-lives-matter-rallies/12325442

02.01.2022 Saving Doctor Brown Is the Medical Council really protecting public safety because of some complaints about his prescription? Or is it because the doctor is a solo practitioner who is an easy target of bullying? Or is it because he is "old-school" who refused to use a computer when seeing his patients? Commonsense prevails when Dr Brown is vindicated. Patients will stand to lose if caring innocent doctors are being harassed or suspended by regulators on "reasonable belief" f...ollowing any complaints. AHReform will continue to urge our government to address this serious harm to the medical profession and the community who needs our caring doctors. Trivial, frivolous or vexatious complaints should not ever be used under the guise of protecting public safety to damage doctors' reputation and practice. Dr Brown deserves a formal apology from the Medical Council of NSW. https://www.facebook.com/ACurrentAffair9/videos/309461233472834/

02.01.2022 Message from a nurse from Melbourne battling Covid-19. AHReform applauds the strength and courage of all those healthcare professionals risking their lives for our community. AHReform also calls on the regulators to stop oppressing innocent healthcare professionals under the guise of protecting public health and safety. ... Suspension of healthcare professionals should only be reserved to genuine proven cases of serious patient harm. AHReform urges the regulators to free victims of vexatious complaints and professional bullying, and allow these healthcare professionals return to help our community during this difficult period. Stop the ugly health politics for the sake of our nation. https://www.facebook.com/238182898451/posts/10160243500078452/

01.01.2022 The NSW Health Minister was being called out for his inappropriate behavior in parliament when asked to address the issue of face masks. What hope can we expect from our state health minister to make positive reform in addressing serious health issues, including the dysfunctional regulatory agencies? https://www.facebook.com/163164813757533/posts/4231289666945007/

01.01.2022 More doctors being suspended pending sexual misconduct investigations By Antony Scholefield Excerpts from AUSTRALIAN DOCTOR NEWS, 4 August 2020... Scrapping the use of chaperones for accused doctors has made suspension more common. The Medical Board of Australia’s decision to stop using chaperones for doctors accused of sexual misconduct has led to more doctors having their registration temporarily suspended under emergency powers, a review has found. There have been concerns that doctors are being denied natural justice when they lose their ability to work pending formal accusations by regulators. Professor Paterson said the investigation process faced by doctors was still too drawn-out, causing unnecessary stress to both complainants and doctors subject to suspensions. The medical board was unable to produce data on how long the suspensions lasted on average, Professor Paterson noted. However, from files I have reviewed, it appears that many are in place for more than six months, he said. And the average time to resolve all sexual misconduct allegations was 317 days, he added. ---------------------------------------------------- AHReform and other organizations have all raised concerns about the injustice faced by many health practitioners who fall victims to vexatious complaints and overzealous disciplinary action by the regulators. There is no accountability for unscrupulous individuals who misuse the regulatory process as a tool to harass innocent health practitioners. It's in the public interest to reform our regulatory system to stop this kind of human rights abuses. https://www.ausdoc.com.au//more-doctors-being-suspended-pe

01.01.2022 ABC News 4 August 2020 Victorian coronavirus response scrutinised as Parliament meets against health advice By state political reporter Richard Willingham and Joseph Dunstan... Excerpts from the news report: In the Legislative Council, however, a sitting was held, with the Opposition and some crossbench MPs arguing that it was important for democratic institutions to scrutinise the Government during the declared state of disaster. "At a time when the Government is exercising unprecedented powers that we have never seen in Victoria, we need unprecedented scrutiny,'' Liberal Democrats MP David Limbrick told the Parliament. Opposition frontbencher David Davis noted it had been seven weeks since the Parliament sat. "There has been a deterioration in the position of health across the state because of the COVID-19 crisis, because of the errors in the processes concerning contact tracing and because of the enormous blunders that occurred with quarantine in this state, and it is critical that the Government is held to account on those matters,'' Mr Davis said. Ms Mikakos said the Government did not want to be at Parliament. "I do think that the position that the Government has been forced into in relation to today's sitting has been one that has set a very dangerous position not just in terms of putting staff at risk but also sending a clear message to the community that the Chief Health Officer's advice can be ignored,'' she said. But it was the refusal to answer a series of questions in question time that enraged the Parliament. Instead of answering in the chamber, Ms Mikakos replied to every query that she would provide a written response tomorrow. This is not the usual practice. "That is an appalling response by the Minister, an appalling contempt of the Parliament and a contempt of the community. This is a very serious matter,'' Mr Davis said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If the Parliament cannot scrutinize the health minister of her conduct and policies, there is going to be little hope for the public to address the failing of the government and the regulators, let alone any hope of a health reform. Is Covid-19 being misused or not by the bureaucrats to oppress the people under the guise of public health and safety? If Covid-19 pandemic is concerning the health minister, why isn't a teleconference organised instead for parliamentary hearing? Mikakos refuses to answer questions as Upper House sits against CHO advice http://www.abc.net.au//victorian-coronavirus-advi/12523614