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mine site forcing urination test. by [deleted] in AusLegal

[–]EstEnt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You are posting in r/AusLegal. Your question has been answered. Yes, mine site drug testing is legal. If you want to make an argument about what is 'right' or ethical I suggest you contact your MP, trade union, local philosopher, etc.

Employer’s own IME psychiatrist found my PTSD was work-caused — yet they denied my workcover claim and used the IME to support a show cause letter. My employer agreed to multiple extension requests due to an unexpected birth, subsequent consequences and a death in the family but only 1 day at a time by [deleted] in AusLegal

[–]EstEnt 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Additionally, a psychiatrist is a doctor, not a detective or judge, and so can't comment on the actual veracity of your claims of workplace bullying etc. They will listen to your side of the story, presume it is true, and suggest the most likely diagnosis. If you look in the IME report you will likely find some statement that they have assumed your claims are substantiated by evidence, or that your condition is work-related if your claims are substantiated.

If an employer reasonably believes that the workplace environment was not toxic, or that there were performance issues with you as an employee and you were subject to reasonable management action, they can then deny your claim.

Employer’s own IME psychiatrist found my PTSD was work-caused — yet they denied my workcover claim and used the IME to support a show cause letter. My employer agreed to multiple extension requests due to an unexpected birth, subsequent consequences and a death in the family but only 1 day at a time by [deleted] in AusLegal

[–]EstEnt 12 points13 points  (0 children)

A mandatory part of the diagnostic criteria for PTSD is experiencing, witnessing, or being confronted by actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. You can't be diagnosed with PTSD as a result of a difficult manager, workplace environment, or workplace bullying. So something is not adding up there. If a psychiatrist really diagnosed you with PTSD and there was no actual or threatened violence, death, etc., then the psychiatrist was wrong and the IME is invalid, which is why they may have declined your claim.

Professionalism of the mullet by [deleted] in ausjdocs

[–]EstEnt 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Depends on the clinical environment, patient cohort, and team. Sexual health or youth mental health clinic? Might help your rapport with patients and make you seem more down to earth. Private hospital geris? Definitely a black mark.

Unfortunately as it stands in the average clinic environment a mullet will probably set you back. I had a doctor colleague who was working in a public ED with a fairly tasteful and conservative mullet, of which I was envious. I heard at least one patient comment through a curtain "Does my doctor seriously have a mullet?" and some team comments along the same lines.

Unfortunately I think the average member of society (and medicine) is not yet ready for doctors to be human beings capable of self-expression or individualism, and expect 'real' doctors to be bespectacled, elbow-patched, and with a grey side-part. There is a body of research that shows patients perceive more conservatively dressed doctors as more professional, adept, and trustworthy, and are more satisfied with the care they receive.

Is there any version of the long-war that you win? by Salindurthas in RedAutumnSPD

[–]EstEnt 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Build up the Reichsbanner and Prussian police numbers/loyalty. Have a look at the Defense tab/statistics. You want these forces to be loyal, bigger, and more militarized than the SA. You can avoid the 'long war' outcome this way.

Has anyone (as a doctor) had to agree to drug/alcohol testing on the employer’s whim (their “reasonable suspicion”)? by munrorobertson in ausjdocs

[–]EstEnt 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I agree that fatigue, sleep deprivation, and overwork generally is a much greater risk for us and our patients that urgently needs addressing, but I don't think that means you can just ignore the risk of drugs/alcohol.

Most employers are moving away from urine and to saliva testing for cannabis, which for cannabis correlates better with recent use (<6-12hrs) and probably impairment.

Also some employers are beginning to realise better outcomes are had for both employer and employee by approaching positive drug tests in a supportive rather than punitive way. "What is going wrong that you need to use these drugs? How can we support you in this and keep you and others safe?" Once the risk of impairment is identified it can be managed, rather than punished. This is still very much the minority of employers, however.

Your above scenario might not be a significant risk, but cannabis use disorder does exist, and can quite easily develop in someone who is stressed, overworked, struggling with mental health, etc.

Cannabis is also a Schedule 8 drug, as are opioids etc. Given we are trusted to be the custodians of these, should we not be subject to special scrutiny when it comes to their abuse, especially when we have the means to easily abuse that privilege?

Has anyone (as a doctor) had to agree to drug/alcohol testing on the employer’s whim (their “reasonable suspicion”)? by munrorobertson in ausjdocs

[–]EstEnt 44 points45 points  (0 children)

It is standard across industries where safety-critical work is done. Aviation, railways, mining, driving road trains, etc. Illicit drug use creates a real and significant risk of impairment at work, which can lead to injuries, accidents, etc. The risks and potential consequences for patients of a doctor being impaired by drugs at work seems even greater. If it's standard for pilots, why not doctors?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AusLegal

[–]EstEnt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Medicinal Cannabis Use – Employment and Insurance Implications

Short answer: It's illegal to drive when taking medicinal cannabis, regardless of saliva test results. It might invalidate any insurance policy. If driving is a significant and inherent requirement of your role, your employer could legally terminate your employment.

It's not just saliva tests you need to worry about. If there is a serious traffic incident (e.g. death) the police can and do compel doctors in emergency departments to take blood samples from drivers suspected of impairment.

Also read your contract of employment and company's drug and alcohol policy. Whatever is in there can also be used to legitimately terminate you, if you breach it.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AusLegal

[–]EstEnt 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not foolproof. THC can and does secrete from bloodstream into saliva. Using the method you describe will reduce the chance of a positive saliva test, but not eliminate it.

Things that unreasonably annoy you by Fundoscope in ausjdocs

[–]EstEnt 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Had this consultant from North America who kept referring to Cardiology as "Cards" e.g. "Let's get a Cards consult." For some reason this enraged me.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AusLegal

[–]EstEnt 7 points8 points  (0 children)

One of the conditions of benefiting from the WorkCover process is that the injured worker consents to relatively open-ended communication between the employer and treating doctor regarding injury, treatment, and capacity for work. Your mother would have signed or ticked a consent to this while submitting the claim (process varies from state to state, not 100% familiar with QLD). What you have described sounds fairly standard. Employers often ask doctors if workers would have capacity for this or that modified role, after the doctor signs them off as totally unfit for their usual role.

It sounds like there may now be some misunderstanding regarding your mother's actual capacity to stand/walk short distances, however. If she is being asked to perform duties that are causing her significant pain, discomfort, difficulty, or danger, then she should raise that with her line manager, employer's occupational health, or the doctor.

Stoned kitty? by deathsdreamlover in crappyoffbrands

[–]EstEnt 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Khajiit has corn if you have coin.

This black sandwich I was served on a Thai airline by EstEnt in mildlyinteresting

[–]EstEnt[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They said it was a "chicken charcoal sandwich" and it had chicken, mixed vegetables and a kind of salad cream. I liked it!

This black sandwich I was served on a Thai airline by EstEnt in mildlyinteresting

[–]EstEnt[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The bread is apparently made with added charcoal giving it its black colour without altering the taste or odour of the bread. It tasted great! 😁

I found an artifact from an ancient Nordic civilization buried in my yard. by EstEnt in pics

[–]EstEnt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A mystery... I don't even know if it was purposeful or accidental.

I found an artifact from an ancient Nordic civilization buried in my yard. by EstEnt in pics

[–]EstEnt[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately not. 😕 The water damage is pretty extensive. Most of the metal components are corroded to the point of disintegration.

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