The Health News – 8 December 2015
Overview:
• A Canberra nurse, Daniel Oakleigh has been sanctioned for taking drugs home from hospital without permission in March last year to treat his chronic back pain.
• The AMA released its new Position Statement on Sexual Harassment in the Medical Workplace 2015, advocating a zero tolerance approach to this very important issue.
• Jane Kibble has lived with the hepatitis C for 28 years says she has been cured of the virus hepatitis C after taking part in a drug trial.
News on Health Professional Radio. Today is the 8th December 2015. Read by Rebecca Foster. Health News
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-07/canberra-nurse-admits-to-stealing-drugs-for-back-pain/7007428
A Canberra nurse has been sanctioned for taking drugs home from hospital to treat his chronic back pain.
Daniel Oakleigh was employed as a registered nurse in the anaesthetics and peri-operative unit at the Canberra Hospital when he began taking an anaesthetic drug home without permission in March last year.
Oakleigh used a cannula to inject up to five vials of the drug Propofol from the unit up to three times a week to relax his back muscles and help him sleep.
He developed septicaemia associated with injecting the drug and was admitted to the hospital’s emergency department in June last year.
He admitted to using the drug without a prescription and his registration as a nurse was suspended.
Oakleigh denied using the drug while at work or while caring for his children.
But he accepted he was guilty of professional misconduct.
He expressed remorse and has since had successful back surgery.
He has remained employed in a non-clinical role.
The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal formally reprimanded Oakleigh and placed conditions on his employment after the lifting of his suspension as a nurse.
https://ama.com.au/media/ama-advocates-zero-tolerance-sexual-harassment-medical-workplace
The AMA … released its new Position Statement on Sexual Harassment in the Medical Workplace 2015, advocating a zero tolerance approach to this very important issue.
The Position Statement was developed in response to serious allegations of sexual harassment in the medical workforce that were highlighted in the media earlier this year.
AMA President, Professor Brian Owler, said today that the AMA has been working closely with the medical colleges and other health groups to ensure a strong united response from the profession to eliminate sexual harassment from medical workplaces.
“The impact of sexual harassment is profound,” Professor Owler said.
“It affects physical and mental health, and undermines performance and professionalism in the workplace.
“Sexual harassment can influence career choice and career progression. The profession needs to make it clear that sexual harassment is unacceptable.
“The AMA and the profession have been deeply shocked and challenged by the stories that have been made public, with the extent of the problem more widespread than many believed as doctors and students have contacted the AMA to share details of their personal experiences.
“While the profession – including colleges and professional bodies needs to play a leadership role, it cannot tackle this issue on its own.
“It requires collaboration from employers and other medical education providers to work together to promote a respectful work and training environment, and eliminate sexual harassment.
“The AMA Position Statement recommends specialised training and education, robust policies and complaints processes, the promotion of inclusion of women in the medical workforce, including in senior roles, and sanctions and penalties for offenders.
“The policy also highlights the need to support bystanders to speak up and act in circumstances where they witness colleagues being subject to sexual harassment.
“This is a key part of addressing cultural issues that have allowed sexual harassment to become a significant problem for the profession.”
The AMA Position Statement on Sexual Harassment in the Medical Workplace is available at https://ama.com.au/position-statement/sexual-harassment-medical-workplace
A woman in country NSW says she has been cured of the virus hepatitis C after taking part in a drug trial.
Jane Kibble has lived with the hepatitis C for 28 years, and on Wednesday, learned by email that she was now free of the virus.
“It said congratulations, the virus is undetected, this is a cure. Merry Christmas,” Ms Kibble said.
The news sparked a whirlwind of emotions within Ms Kibble; most importantly, the knowledge she no longer fears for her future.
“For the first time in half my life I don’t have the hepatitis C virus,” she said.
“For the first time in 28 years I’m not living with a secret invader inside my body, that’s slowly tearing my liver apart.
“For the first time, I can look to the future and know that I actually have a future.”
Ms Kibble has attributed her cure to a drug trial she was given special access to.
Since the March 24, 2015 Ms Kibble has been on a compassionate access program for a ground-breaking treatment protocol.
She first went public with the news of her disease in July this year and made the decision to reveal she had the virus in the hope it would raise awareness and bring the issue to the attention of politicians.
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