The Australian Medical Association on midwifery-led care in maternity services, September 2008: “[…] midwifery services were expanded without any reference to the medical profession and without any clear evidence base around the impact on safety and clinical outcomes for patients…. Read More ›
medicine
Quickhit: another gynaecologist comes under scrutiny
This one worked at Lismore Base Hospital. There’s a lot less detail of exactly what malfeasance he’s accused of committing, but there is mention of a history of failed sterilisations due to alcohol consumption in New Zealand, and a paper-trail… Read More ›
“Pro-life” Archbishop Hart’s murderous misogyny
The Abortion Law Reform Bill 2008 can be read in its entirety at Austlii. The emergency provisions are not complicated or difficult to understand. They are as follows: Despite any conscientious objection to abortion, a registered medical practitioner is under… Read More ›
The “saintly” nurse stereotype
A new biography of Florence Nightingale is reported as portraying her as “not so saintly”, on the grounds that she didn’t do much sitting by bedsides proffering personal care, rather she excelled as an administrator. Apparently revolutionising the care of… Read More ›
Graeme Reeves has been charged
It’s been a long time coming, but Strike Force Tarella has now accumulated enough evidence to arrest and charge ex-obstetrician and gynaecologist Graeme Reeves, dubbed the “Butcher of Bega”, on a number of violent offences against women. There were many more complaints, and the police continue to compile evidence.
Guy Barnett pushing another punitive bill amendment on abortion
LABOR MPs will get a conscience vote on a controversial push to scrap Medicare funding for abortions in Australia for women who are more than 14 weeks pregnant. [link] The ALP’s national executive committee has confirmed it will recommend that… Read More ›
No more funding for Queensland Mothers Milk Bank
Australia has only two milk banks, one in Perth and one on the Gold Coast. They do important work. The Queensland non-profit Mothers Milk Bank, based at John Flynn Private Hospital, has noted that premature and ill babies fed human… Read More ›
Bedside Manner
I shared this on my eljay the other day, and thought some Hoydenizens might appreciate it. ‘Tis a conversation I had with my son, known online as The Lad, the other day after school. I wish I could adequately communicate the tone of voice and the flourishes.
“Hi. I’m Doctor Lad.”
“Hi, Doctor.”
“I’m going to have to take an X-ray. Zzht. zzp, zzp, zht. Ohhhhh.” [serious look]
Musing on male contraception
Until now both technical and psycho-cultural barriers have prevented the development of effective chemical male contraception, with the psycho-cultural barriers being the primary reason that there does not exist a sufficient potential market to drive investment in R&D to overcome the technical barriers. Even the MRAs who so bemoan women trapping them into unwanted paternity appear oddly unwilling to consider funding the R&D for an effective Male Pill
Failing to Suspend My Disbelief
Lazy writers on long-running TV shows are giving me the stabbies quite often, but this particular one is still irritating me after a whole week, so it must be aired. When Dr Nikki Alexander, cool-calm-collected forensic scientist, realises that she’s… Read More ›
Hoyden About Town 