CASES
Australia. Federal Magistrates Court of Australia
AGIUS V ST VINCENT'S HEALTH [2012] FMCA 840 (14 SEPTEMBER 2012)
Joanna Agius (the applicant) sought remedies for alleged discrimination against her by St Vincent's Health (the respondent). The applicant is deaf. On three separate occasions the applicant attended the Emergency Department at the respondent's premises.
The applicant claimed that on each occasion the respondent discriminated against her in that they did not ensure that an accredited Auslan interpreter assisted her. The applicant also claims that the respondent imposed a 'requirement or condition' on her that she access and/or received medical treatment without the assistance of an Auslan interpreter.
On each occasion, the applicant attended with a friend, an Auslan student, to assist her in communicating with staff. The applicant also used written English to communicate. On each occasion the applicant received appropriate medical treatment and did not complain about feeling upset or humiliated after each visit to the respondent's Emergency Department.
The respondent contended that the applicant had the assistance of her friend, an Auslan student, and that on one occasion they had booked an Auslan interpreter to assist, however the interpreter had fallen ill and could not attend. The respondent argued that the applicant was able to access and receive medical treatment on each occasion. This was accepted by the Court.
The Court held that the respondent has not discriminated or imposed a 'condition or requirement' that the applicant receive medical attention without the assistance of an Auslan interpreter. The application was dismissed.
LEGISLATION
Commonwealth
Health Insurance Amendment (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Act 2012
Private
Health Insurance (Complying Product) Amendment Rules 2012 (No.
7)
F2012L01888 " as made
Private
Health Insurance (Benefit Requirements) Amendment Rules 2012 (No.
5)
F2012L01887 " as made
Western Australia
QUEEN ELIZABETH II MEDICAL CENTRE AMENDMENT BILL 2012
REPORTS & MEDIA RELEASES
Australian Institute of Health & Welfare
Aged
care packages in the community 2010-11: a statistical
overview
Residential
aged care in Australia 2010-11: a statistical overview
19 September 2012 - Media
release
Australia. National Health & Medical Research Council
14 September 2012 - Focussing on the needs of the child in managing ADHD
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the boards
17 September 2012 - National Occupational Therapy Board and AHPRA increase transparency and publish Health Profession Agreement. Read Article
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Australian Commission on Safety & Quality in Health Care
17 September 2012 - On the Radar – Issue 97 (90KB)
Australia. Therapeutic Goods Administration
17 September 2012 - Consultation: Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines business process reform - Medsafe and the TGA are seeking comments from interested parties on proposed reforms to the business processes for the evaluation of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines
18 September 2012 - TGA presentation given at the PDA Australia Chapter seminar - The presentation addressed the current direction of international standards for the development, validation and routine control of Ethylene oxide and radiation sterilization processes for health care products
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18 September 2012 - Key date for sponsors of biologicals - 30 November 2012 is a key date for sponsors of biologicals that are currently supplied in Australia but are not currently included in the ARTG
Australian Capital Territory. Health Directorate
14 September 2012 - Caretaker Period - The ACT Government is currently in caretaker period before the upcoming election on 20 October 2012. More latest news
New South Wales. Ministry of Health
Media releases
- 17 September 2012- New Royal North Shore Hospital no longer a construction site
- 19 September 2012- NSW Ends Discriminatory Autopsy Practices
- 19 September 2012 - Community to Picture Progress at Dubbo Hospital
- Nestle NAN H.A. 1 Gold Infant Formula
18 September 2012 - Policy directive - Data collections-disclosure of unit record data for research or management of health services-PD2012_051
18 September 2012 - Information bulletin - Health Records and Medical/Clinical Reports - Rates-IB2012_032
Queensland. Department of Health
Media releases
- 19 September 2012 - Minister Ends Speculation on Water Fluoridation
South Australia. Department of Health
- 19 September 2012 - Helping Aboriginal Children Stay Strong
Tasmania. Department of Health & Human Services
Media release
- 15 September 2012 - RHH Bridges the Gap for Outpatients
Victoria. Department of Health
Media releases
- 14 September 2012 - Historic milestone for Monash Medical Centre - Minister for Health David Davis today paid tribute to Monash Medical Centre staff of the past and present as the hospital celebrated its 25th anniversary.
- 17 September 2012 - Largest Victorian Seniors discount directory online - The latest Victorian Seniors Card directory – featuring the biggest range of discount offers on record – will now be searchable online for the first time at Seniors Online.
Risk Watch Volume 9, Issue 5 (doc)
Western Australia. Department of Health
Media releases
- 21 September 2012 - Minister for Health - New Medical Research Projects Funded
New Zealand. Ministry of Health
19 September 2012 - Consultation on Paying Family Carers to Provide Disability Support 2012
United Kingdom. Department of Health
New programme to ensure greater local choice of care services - Today, the Department of Health launched a new programme to help provide more choice and higher quality of care and support services across the country. The Developing Care Markets for ... Read more – New programme to ensure greater local choice of care services
Australian Medical Association
19 eptem er 2012 - Alcohol Industry self-regulation has failed - Alcohol Marketing and Young People: Time for a new policy agenda - AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that alcohol industry self-regulation has failed and called on the Government to establish a Federal Inquiry into alcohol marketing in Australia. Releasing a new AMA report – Alcohol Marketing and Young People: Time for a new policy agenda – Dr Hambleton said that alcohol marketing to young people was at an unprecedented level and was embracing new platforms, including social media, to lure teenagers and young adults into early and potentially harmful drinking patterns.
British Medical Association
18 September 2012 - EU plans threaten data security - Doctors leaders have warned MPs that changes to EU data protection rules could put existing patient ...
18 September 2012 - GMC reports record number of complaints - Doctors are more likely to face a GMC investigation because of a record rise in complaints, the regu...
18 September 2012 - Confusion and uncertainty in sexual health - With STIs on the rise and funding arrangements in flux, there is widespread anxiety about the forthc...
18 September 2012 - GP trainee becomes juniors leader - London GP trainee Ben Molyneux has been elected to lead the UK's junior doctors. Dr Molyneux w...
17 September 2012 - Cream of the crop - Teenaged success as a door-to-door dairy salesman set Alan McDevitt on an unconventional path to bec...
17 September 2012 - Public health 'panic' warning - The BMA is calling on ministers to reassure local authorities about public health spending urgently,...
14 September 2012 - DNAR case prompts BMA ethical guidance reminder - Doctors are reminded that BMA advice is available to help them make difficult ethical decisions, suc...
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