hospital treatment is the second greatest CAUSE of death in Australia

http://www.medicalerroraustralia.com/issues/who_will_take_responsibility.php

Mandatory reporting problematic

Different cultural beliefs may make overseas-trained doctors reticent to report colleagues for impairment or professional misconduct under the new mandatory reporting laws, according to Medical Board of Australia chair, Dr Joanna Flynn.

Mandatory reporting by all registered medical practitioners came into effect on July 1 under new national legislation governing 10 health professions and their national boards, which now fall under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Under the legislation, registered health practitioners, their employers and education providers must report “notifiable conduct”, such as working while intoxicated, sexual misconduct, or impairment placing the public at risk of substantial harm.

Dr Flynn’s concerns follow a study of almost 1900 US physicians that found 17% knew a colleague who was incompetent to practise but only two-thirds reported them.

Underrepresented minorities, graduates of non-US medical schools and doctors practising alone or with one partner were the least likely to report.

http://www.mjainsight.com.au/view?post=mandatory-reporting-requirements-problematic-for-overseas-trained-doctors&post_id=490&cat=news-and-research

When the cure is worse than the illness

http://www.smh.com.au/national/when-the-cure-is-worse-than-the-illness-20110722-1hsp3.html