VICDOC Autumn 2023 - Magazine - Page 61
coordinated and funded
and that the specialist
services available for
eating disorder care should
also be expanded.
INDEPENDENT REVIEW PANEL
INTO COMPULSORY TREATMENT
CRITERIA AND ALIGNMENT OF
DECISION-MAKING LAWS
AMA Victoria’s Section
of Psychiatry recently
met with the Independent
Review Panel tasked
with providing advice/
recommendations
to government into
compulsory treatment
criteria and alignment
of decision-making laws
in Victoria.
AMA Victoria felt it was
a very worthwhile meeting
in which the Chair (Shane
Marshall AM) provided an
excellent opportunity for all
of us to contribute and to
speak frankly and freely.
The Chair and Panel
members were open minded
and asked questions that
caused us to reflect deeply
on some of the more
challenging issues being
faced by the Panel.
We were particularly
appreciative of the fact
that our involvement was
at an earlier stage of the
independent review process,
which is not always the case
with similar governmentinitiated consultations.
AMA VICTORIA CONCERNS
AROUND THE USE OF
E-SCOOTERS IN VICTORIA
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
TO GOVERNMENT
AMA Victoria has
written to the Victorian
Government to raise
several key health
concerns arising from the
e-scooter trial in Victoria
in light of its extension to
AHPRA ADVOCACY
31 March 2023.
AMA Victoria, assisted and
In summary, our letter
advised by the Compliance
stated that e-scooter
Committee of AMA Victoria
morbidity contributes
Council, has continued its
significantly to Emergency
efforts advocating for the
Department overcrowding
wholesale reform of AHPRA. and thus hospital access
Whilst acknowledging that block and that, given the
a regulator is essential, the
current climate, we are of
medical profession deserves the opinion that more steps
one that is accountable, fair, need to be undertaken to
efficient, and prompt. The
reduce e-scooter accidents
status quo fails on all fronts. and their healthcare burden.
Due to AMA Victoria’s
As always, if members
advocacy, our AMA
have a policy issue they
Federal colleagues have
would like to discuss, or
countenanced the possibility have some feedback about
of an inquiry into the
our priorities, please contact
regulator. Moreover, we
our Senior Policy Adviser,
have held constructive
Lewis Horton.
conversations with the
Victorian Committee of the
Medical Board of Australia.
Nevertheless, it remains
our view that a paradigm
shift of what can be
an unaccountable and
occasionally capricious
regulator is necessary, and
that a Royal Commission
will ultimately be required
to truly reform AHPRA.
Our Section of Psychiatry
relayed to the Panel that
AMA Victoria is happy
to assist as its process
evolves in the period
ahead — whether that be
through advice, similar
formal meetings, provision
of research literature, or
dealing with practical realworld issues and challenges.
VI CD O C AUTU M N 202 3
61