Australian Medical Association

The idea of a chaperone may seem old fashioned. But patients differ in their preception of what is required during a medical examination,  particularly if the patient comes from a different background. The presence of a chaperone is one way to minimise complaints being made against doctors.

Whenever you are conducting an examination, whether it is in a suburban surgery or in a busy hospital, consider whether you should have a chaperone present.

The purpose of this Guideline is to clarify the responsibilities of medical practitioners, patients, and relevant third parties regarding certificates certifying illness ("sickness certificates") within the context of the doctor-patient relationship.

The AMA Joint Submission highlights concerns that the proposed arrangements will impose additional requirements on registrants to provide information, including workforce data, to the relevant board as a condition of registration, and extend existing arrangements for information sharing about registered medical practitioners between various government agencies.

AMA Position Statement: Unique Healthcare Identifiers - 2008

AMA comments on the Review of Australian Privacy Law, Discussion Paper 72

The NSW Supreme Court's June 2003 decision of PD v Dr Nicholas Harvey and Another reminds doctors in clinical practice of the importance of effective patient-doctor communication and duty of care to third parties.

Your Privacy Questions Answered

AMA Position Statement: Guidelines for Doctors on Providing Patient Access to Medical Records - 1997. Revised 2002

AMA Position Statement: Access to Medical Records by Doctors Who Are Not Treating the Patients Concerned - 2002