My mum and I took my 92 yr old Grandma (who had dementia) to the oncologist, and I remember the look of relief on his face when we didn't want to peruse further testing and /or treatment , Grandma looked him in the eye and said "its all good" and a year later she died a peaceful and pain free passing. There was no regrets or blame and I wish everyone the same dignity. Doctors deserve better treatment.
I'm a health practitioner and I have to say I went through something similar with the State Board here in Victoria before it became AHPRA. The whole national registration was supposed to wipe out rogue boards and bullying/intimidation tactics like this. It seems as though absolutely nothing has changed.
Its possibly worse. The AHPRA process is bullshit. I notified them when I knew I had developed a substance problem after having a gastric sleeve. I went back to the doctor I was seeing at the time & said this (the op site) still hurts. he said I'll give you anything you want. he gave me more endone. he kept giving it to me every time I went back with back problems etc. I developed a dependency. I doctor shopped. I found out 2 yrs later that this doctor was known as The Opiate Doctor in our suburb. So with alot of life stressors, my kids growing up (seriously severe empty nest syndrome), financial problems etc etc. I finally realised my work was suffering & I notified them as someone else had also notified them that I wasn't myself. I wasn't. I was in the grip of opiate addiction. I was suspended for 3 mths which turned into 10 mths with ahpra's bullshit. They take months to resolve anything. I finally got back to work a year ago. I have been wee testing 12 x a month for almost a year. Admittedly, I have stuffed up a few times. Forgot to write things down, ate a hash cookie at a friends 50th, took a tramadol for back pain and forgot to declare it. Everytime you stuff up, ahpra take 4 months to decide what your fate is. I now have a new one. I had to change GPs. Because I didn't get the GP to fill out a CERTAIN form...I have to put in a submission to explain why I didn't. F**k ME. I'm screwed.
Hi Jane you clearly did not get a fair trial. You seem to be a very caring and wise doctor. My impression from reading the case was that you are prepared to do what all of us ought to do but are too afraid to do (i.e. avoid futile and inappropriate investigation and treatment in dying elderly patients with dementia). In all those 12 cases that were highlighted, it seems exceedingly unlikely that any further investigation/active treatment would have altered the inevitable trajectory of decline, and moreover, would have been not in keeping with the patient and family's wishes. So I am at a loss to see how AHPRA could reprimand you and impose such onerous conditions on your practice. It all seems awfully unfair. One must certainly entertain the possibility that the notification to AHPRA has some element of a personal vendetta against you. I fear that your case and AHPRA's harsh treatment of you may result in unnecessary suffering to patients. Instead of focusing on what is best for the patient and what the patient and family want, I am sure there will be many more unnecessary investigations performed, and futile treatment provided, thanks to AHPRA's decision. Good job AHPRA...
My mum and I took my 92 yr old Grandma (who had dementia) to the oncologist, and I remember the look of relief on his face when we didn't want to peruse further testing and /or treatment , Grandma looked him in the eye and said "its all good" and a year later she died a peaceful and pain free passing. There was no regrets or blame and I wish everyone the same dignity. Doctors deserve better treatment.
I'm a health practitioner and I have to say I went through something similar with the State Board here in Victoria before it became AHPRA. The whole national registration was supposed to wipe out rogue boards and bullying/intimidation tactics like this. It seems as though absolutely nothing has changed.
Its possibly worse. The AHPRA process is bullshit. I notified them when I knew I had developed a substance problem after having a gastric sleeve. I went back to the doctor I was seeing at the time & said this (the op site) still hurts. he said I'll give you anything you want. he gave me more endone. he kept giving it to me every time I went back with back problems etc. I developed a dependency. I doctor shopped. I found out 2 yrs later that this doctor was known as The Opiate Doctor in our suburb. So with alot of life stressors, my kids growing up (seriously severe empty nest syndrome), financial problems etc etc. I finally realised my work was suffering & I notified them as someone else had also notified them that I wasn't myself. I wasn't. I was in the grip of opiate addiction. I was suspended for 3 mths which turned into 10 mths with ahpra's bullshit. They take months to resolve anything. I finally got back to work a year ago. I have been wee testing 12 x a month for almost a year. Admittedly, I have stuffed up a few times. Forgot to write things down, ate a hash cookie at a friends 50th, took a tramadol for back pain and forgot to declare it. Everytime you stuff up, ahpra take 4 months to decide what your fate is. I now have a new one. I had to change GPs. Because I didn't get the GP to fill out a CERTAIN form...I have to put in a submission to explain why I didn't. F**k ME. I'm screwed.
........... yes we do need a different paradigm. AHPRA should be put under the same microscope as the Catholic Church and the Banks.
Thank you for sharing your experience and making me feel less alone.
How did work out for you?
Hi Jane you clearly did not get a fair trial. You seem to be a very caring and wise doctor. My impression from reading the case was that you are prepared to do what all of us ought to do but are too afraid to do (i.e. avoid futile and inappropriate investigation and treatment in dying elderly patients with dementia). In all those 12 cases that were highlighted, it seems exceedingly unlikely that any further investigation/active treatment would have altered the inevitable trajectory of decline, and moreover, would have been not in keeping with the patient and family's wishes. So I am at a loss to see how AHPRA could reprimand you and impose such onerous conditions on your practice. It all seems awfully unfair. One must certainly entertain the possibility that the notification to AHPRA has some element of a personal vendetta against you. I fear that your case and AHPRA's harsh treatment of you may result in unnecessary suffering to patients. Instead of focusing on what is best for the patient and what the patient and family want, I am sure there will be many more unnecessary investigations performed, and futile treatment provided, thanks to AHPRA's decision. Good job AHPRA...
This woman comes across as incredibly unstable. I side with AHPRA on this one. I wouldn't want any of my family being seen by this wierdo.
I have a story that’s far worse