The Health News – 14 April 2016

Overview:
• A South Australian dairy farming couple Mark and Helen Tyler we’re charged over a cow-sharing scheme have pleaded guilty to selling milk that did not comply with national standards.

• Doctors and the Liberal Opposition in South Australia are keen for the state to take another look at legalising medicinal use of marijuana.

• Nominations for the AMA Public Health Awards are now open. The awards, which include the AMA Excellence in Healthcare Award, AMA Woman in Medicine Award, AMA Women’s Health Award, AMA Men’s Health Award, AMA Youth Health Award, and AMA Doctor in Training of the Year, will be presented at the AMA National Conference in Canberra on 27-29 May 2016.

News on Health Professional Radio. Today is the  14th of April 2016. Read by Rebecca Foster. Health News

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-13/sa-dairy-farmers-plead-guilty-to-selling-raw-milk/7324494

A South Australian dairy farming couple charged over a cow-sharing scheme have pleaded guilty to selling milk that did not comply with national standards.

Mark and Helen Tyler from Willunga Hill, south of Adelaide, supplied unpasteurised milk weekly to shareholders.

It is illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption in South Australia, but not to drink it from your own cow.

In May last year, a magistrate found the Tylers’ “cow-share program” was a sham and convicted them of two counts of breaching the Food Act.

The couple appealed to the Supreme Court and won a retrial, which was due to start [this week], but instead Mr and Mrs Tyler pleaded guilty.

SA Health director of public health services Dr Kevin Buckett said the department had always held the view that the Tylers’ cow-share scheme constituted the sale of milk.

“We are pleased with this outcome and we will continue to protect the public from the risks associated with drinking raw cow’s milk,” Dr Buckett said.

Sentencing submissions are being held [today].

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-13/medicinal-cannabis-south-australia-push-for-changes/7324238

Doctors and the Liberal Opposition in South Australia are keen for the state to take another look at legalising medicinal use of marijuana.

On Tuesday Victoria passed laws to allow children with severe epilepsy to use medicinal cannabisfrom next year, and New South Wales is conducting a trial for patients suffering vomiting and nausea as a result of chemotherapy.

SA Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said South Australia was “well behind best practice”.

“South Australia has been absolutely dragging the chain on this one … the rest of the country are looking at this opportunity to relieve people, in exceptional circumstances,” he said.

He urged SA Health Minister Jack Snelling to consider the issue more seriously.                                                     

Mr Snelling said he already had powers under the Controlled Substances Act to allow some patients access [to] medicinal cannabis. 

But he ruled out changing the law in South Australia.

Australian Medical Association state president Janice Fletcher agreed the law needed reconsideration.

There has been a recent push in the SA Riverland for the region to get involved in cultivation of cannabis for medicinal use.

https://ama.com.au/media/call-nominations-ama-public-health-awards

Nominations for the AMA Public Health Awards are now open.

The awards, which include the AMA Excellence in Healthcare Award, AMA Woman in Medicine Award, AMA Women’s Health Award, AMA Men’s Health Award, AMA Youth Health Award, and AMA Doctor in Training of the Year, will be presented at the AMA National Conference in Canberra on 27-29 May 2016.

The AMA Public Health Awards provide well-deserved recognition of the extraordinary contribution that doctors and associated health groups and individuals make to health care and public health.

The selection criteria for each award can be found here at 2016 AMA Public Health Awards.

The closing date of nominations is Thursday 28 April 2015.

Nominations can be emailed to [email protected] or call 02 6270 5400 for more information.

For more information visit AMA National Conference 2016