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Health Care

Protection in advance

Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly, said the best way for vulnerable people to protect themselves against COVID-19 was to ensure they had a plan to receive antivirals quickly if they tested positive. Last Saturday, my 84 year old neighbour tested positive for Covid. Her GP clinic and chemist were closed…
Sarah Russell
November 15, 2022
Health Care

Home truths

It is alarming that thousands of people with Covid are receiving care under the NSW’s Hospital in the Home program. In 1990s, Hospital in the Home was part of a strategy to provide patients with greater healthcare options by incorporating home-based care in an episode of acute care. This was…
Sarah Russell
September 11, 2021
Aged CareHealth Care

Battle will continue

The Australian Medical Association's Ethics and Medico-Legal committee recently reaffirmed is opposition to Victoria's proposed euthanasia legislation. I was able to ensure my parents had humane deaths in n aged care home because I had enough medical knowledge to insist on morphine being both prescribed and administered. Others have to…
Sarah Russell
March 12, 2017
GenderHealth Care

Entrenched sexism in surgery

For decades, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons turned a blind eye to the entrenched sexist culture within surgery. After recent publicity, they have finally opened their eyes. They can no longer deny sexist surgeons operate within hospitals around Australia. The college appointed a group of independent experts – Rob…
Sarah Russell
December 7, 2015
Aged CareHealth Care

Too quick to prescribe

I am the medical power of attorney of my 91-year-old mother, who lives in an aged-care facility. She was recently reviewed by a psychogeriatrician, who prescribed a new drug to slow down the progression of Mum's dementia, despite the fact her dementia is progressing slowly without this drug. Instead, I…
Sarah Russell
August 6, 2015
Health Care

When patients know their own mind

Genes are a disposition not a determinant. It is not surprising that many women with genes that increase their risk of breast and ovarian cancer are failing to have life-changing interventions such as a mastectomy, surgery to remove their ovaries or taking medication with serious adverse effects (“Warning to women…
Sarah Russell
December 13, 2013
Aged CareHealth Care

Generation google

I regularly do The Age crossword with a delightful group of elderly women who live in an aged-care facility. These women have done the crossword for more than 60 years. For them, nothing is certain except death, taxes and The Age crossword. These women have an excellent knowledge of synonyms…
Sarah Russell
August 9, 2013
Health Care

Is it really abuse?

According to a new national study patients and their relatives are frequently abusing doctors. Recently I wrote to a GP complaining about a medication error in an aged care facility. The GP, who clearly found my letter abusive, threatened to sue me for defamation. How many doctors in the national…
Sarah Russell
November 24, 2012