New Reforms to Nurse and Midwife to Patient Ratios in Victoria
On 1 March 2019 the first suite of reforms to nurse and midwife to patient ratios came into effect. Here’s what Victorian hospitals need to know about the new and upcoming changes.
Overview of the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying Scheme
From 19 June 2019, Victoria will be the first jurisdiction in Australia to provide a legal framework for people who are suffering and dying to choose the manner and timing of their death. Here’s what health service organisations need to know.
Expanded Definition of Anaesthesia for NSW Private Health Facilities
The definition of ‘anaesthesia’ under the Private Health Facilities Regulation 2017 (NSW) has been expanded to include ‘diagnostic imaging practice anaesthesia’, which will now be subject to the Regulations accordingly.
Case Note: Medical Negligence and Organisational Clinical Guidelines
In this case, the Queensland Supreme Court held that Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics had not been negligent in treating an asthma patient because their treatment was consistent with clinical standards and the QAS Clinical Practice Manual.
Case Note: Consent to Treatment and the Best Interests of the Child
In this case the Victorian Supreme Court, exercising its welfare jurisdiction, authorised the administration of blood to a child despite the objection of the child and her mother.
Case note: Duty of Care and Material Increase in Risk
The District Court of Western Australia held that a hospital was negligent in failing to diagnose and treat sepsis in a paediatric burns patient because the act or omission of the treating doctors materially increased the risk of injury to the plaintiff.
Case Note: Medical Negligence and Peer Professional Opinion
In this case the Supreme Court of New South Wales held that a hospital was not liable in negligence for the partial amputation of a child’s thumb because the course of treatment embarked on by the hospital was consistent with the peer professional opinion of the day.
Case Note: Treatment of the Compliant Mental Health Patient
In this case it was held that a hospital had breached its duty of care by failing to carry out procedures to prevent a psychotic patient, who outwardly appeared compliant, from committing an act of self harm.
Case Note: Dangerous Patients and the Duty of Care
The ACT Supreme Court held that a public hospital was liable in negligence for knowingly admitting a dangerous patient to a shared ward and exposing another patient to harm.
Health Legislation Amendment (Quality and Safety) Act 2017 (Vic)
The Health Services Act has been amended to introduce new obligations on the Boards of public hospitals and multi-purpose services.
