Yes, doctors’ fees should be transparent, but that requirement alone doesn’t go far enough to combat “bill shock”. Specialists should also be required to set fees that are “fair and reasonable”.
We now have the capacity to quickly and cheaply sequence an individual’s genome and scour it for disease-causing genes. But how much, and what type, of information does a parent-to-be want to know?
Recent stories in the media highlight the idea of suicide tourism to Switzerland. But what does that mean? How is the Swiss view of assisted dying different from the Canadian one?
Medical practices have special requirements under the Privacy Act, but the security and privacy systems some providers currently have in place may be inadequate.
More people are sending off saliva samples to find out about their genetic roots. But the raw DNA results go way beyond genealogical data – and could deliver unintended consequences.
A review into pharmacy practices last year recommended pharmacies stop selling ineffective remedies such as homeopathy. The government didn’t support the recommendation.
A new study compared fictional patient experiences in Grey’s Anatomy with real trauma cases. It concluded patients who are fans of the show might have unrealistic expectations of medical care.
The Victorian assisted dying laws are based on those in Oregon, which are quite conservative. Laws in the Netherlands, Belgium and Canada are more relaxed.
Health professionals often have to navigate an ethical minefield working in offshore detention facilities. The current crisis in Manus island provides a case in point.
Space terrorism and testing of space tourists are theoretical problems today. But let’s have conversations right now to make sure they don’t become real problems in the future.
NSW has changed its laws imposing criminal penalties on someone with an STI who doesn’t take “reasonable precautions” to not infect their sexual partner.
Americans have moved on from worrying about ‘test-tube babies’ – but there are still ethical challenges to resolve as reproductive technologies continue to advance.
The contentious book documenting Nelson Mandela’s last days that was pulled of the shelves left many unanswered questions. Judgement must be suspended until it’s content is made public.
Visiting Professor in Biomedical Ethics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute; Distinguished Visiting Professor in Law, University of Melbourne; Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics, University of Oxford
Professor of Bioethics & Medicine, Sydney Health Ethics, Haematologist/BMT Physician, Royal North Shore Hospital and Director, Praxis Australia, University of Sydney
Paediatrician at the Royal Childrens Hospital and Associate Professor and Clinician Scientist, University of Melbourne and MCRI, Murdoch Children's Research Institute