Australian Medical Association

AMA President Dr Steven Hambleton said tonight that the government had done the right thing by sparing health from broad funding cuts to provide a budget for tough economic times and to fund a budget surplus.

“Health has generally been sheltered from the budget cuts,” Dr Hambleton said.

The AMA has updated and split the content of its Position Statement on Human Genetic Issues 1998. Revised 2000. Revised 2002. to produce the AMA Position Statement on Genetic Testing 2012 and the AMA Position Statement on Human Cloning 2012.

The AMA Position Statement on Genetic Testing 2012 is more contemporary and reflects current issues relevant to genetic testing.

This position statement addresses reproductive cloning of human beings as well as other cloning techniques.

Genetic testing will increasingly play a vital role in mainstream health care in terms of preventive health and diagnosing and treating illness. This position statement addresses various aspects of genetic testing including access, consent and genetic counselling, privacy, genetic discrimination, direct to consumer genetic tests, public and professional education, workforce and infrastructure, research, gene patents, and genetic selection. 

This position statement addresses reproductive cloning of human beings as well as other cloning techniques.

Genetic testing will increasingly play a vital role in mainstream health care in terms of preventive health and diagnosing and treating illness. This position statement addresses various aspects of genetic testing including access, consent and genetic counselling, privacy, genetic discrimination, direct to consumer genetic tests, public and professional education, workforce and infrastructure, research, gene patents, and genetic selection.

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.

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 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.

AMA Position Statement on Medical Professionalism 2010

The AMA today released a Position Statement on medical professionalism that identifies the major values of the medical profession, including doctors’ commitment to put patients first.

The AMA Position Statement on Medical Professionalism 2010 draws on the AMA Code of Ethics and the AMA-endorsed World Medical Association Declaration of Geneva and the Declaration of Seoul on Professional Autonomy and Clinical Independence.

AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said there is global professional and community interest in the concept of medical professionalism and what it means to be a medical professional in today’s dynamic health care environment and broader social environment.

“The Position Statement serves to identify the major values of the profession and highlights the profession’s commitment, and indeed responsibility, to put patients first, regardless of the challenges posed by a rapidly changing health care environment,” Dr Pesce said.