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 Australian Medical Association (AMA) is the peak membership organisation representing the registered medical practitioners (doctors) and medical students of Australia.

The AMA promotes and protects the professional interests of doctors and the health care needs of patients and communities.

The AMA advocates on behalf of its members and the community at the Federal and State and Territory levels.

The AMA improves patient care by supporting the medical profession across a range of essential services.

The AMA's submission highlights how important it is to inform registered medical practitioners (doctors), patients, their family and carers, and the wider public of the standard of behaviour expected of doctors in relation to sexual boundaries within the doctor-patient relationship. It’s imperative that doctors understand and respect their ethical and legal duties in relation to sexual boundaries. It’s also important that patients, their family members and carers understand and respect these boundaries as well. As such, the AMA believes that the guidelines need to be clear, comprehensive and avoid ambiguity.

It has become increasingly common for health practitioners not holding a medical degree or professional doctorate qualifications, to adopt the title ‘Doctor’ (Dr). The AMA opposes the use of the title ‘Dr’  by health practitioners in a way that misleads people into believing they are consulting or receiving treatment from a medical practitioner.

The AMA's Position Statement on Doctors' Relationships with Industry 2010 provides guidance for doctors on maintaining ethical relationships with the pharmaceutical industry, medical device and technology industry, and health care product and service suppliers in general ('industry'). While collaboration between doctors and industry contributes beneficially to the quality of health care that Australians receive, doctors have a responsibility to ensure that their relationships with industry are consistent with their duties to their patients and towards society at large.

The AMA Code of Ethics articulates and promotes a body of ethical principles to guide doctors' conduct in their relationships with patients, colleagues and society. This Code has grown out of other similar ethical codes stretching back into history including the Hippocratic Oath.

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.