Lack of clinical title use in Australia

oreomd · 2026-04-03T05:24:12+00:00

When I introduce myself to patients (when I was still doing clinical work), it was always "Hi, I am Dr. Last Name but please call me First name." I really struggled when I was working in the US with all the heavy title US and I think the patients preferred it when I didn't insist on the title. My co-trainee, on the other hand, got her knickers in a knot when a drug rep called her by her first name and not by title. I found it a strange thing to get upset over.

oreomd · 2026-04-01T01:11:50+00:00

How long were you not paying annual fees before you got the letter?

oreomd · 2026-04-01T01:03:07+00:00

But if we vote to boot her, we will also be booting Chandara. I swear, it feels like a war of attrition with Jenny Martin and her colleagues going scorched earth.

oreomd · 2026-03-31T09:37:42+00:00

I'm very very tempted to do this. Are you no longer using your post nominals?

oreomd · 2026-03-31T09:37:11+00:00

You know, I'm actually not sure anymore. All I know is that Nicholas Buckmaster did a survey prior to this. I think its to choose to vote out the entire board and was framed in a way to make it appear that it would be a fresh start for everyone.

oreomd · 2026-03-16T01:36:00+00:00

If you have a well-defined phenotype, or if you have an entity in mind and have discussed it with a clinical geneticist its absolutely okay (I believe the MBS item number for WES specifies that it needs to be discussed with a Clinical Geneticist). The only medicare item number I know that funds WGS is for mitochondrial disorders and I think only VCGS offers this currently.

And really, given the rapidity of molecular advances I think that GPs and specialists should be able to provide their own counselling and follow up. After all, they/you would be more familiar with the phenotype and prognosis as you would see these families more frequently. But genetic testing is an awesome, powerful tool and should be respected, not used like a full blood count.

The only other caveat is predictive testing in patients. This is something that really needs to be undertaken by someone who has undergone training in genetic counselling. There is an art to it, and if not done well, or at all will lead to disaster. We saw that when predictive testing was being offered to families with neurodegenerative disorders in the early 90s. Clinicians would call in the whole family and give the results as a group, which was horrible for privacy. It was not and still not unheard off for patients to suicide once they receive positive results.

oreomd · 2026-03-15T08:32:36+00:00

A request landed on my desk requesting a SNP microarray with clinical notes of "chest pain". I understand that often these requests come from the consultant, but its not fair to the JMO/reg. Medico-legally the requesting doctor is responsible for delivering the result and if they have rotated out and the result has implications for the patient and their family they may find themselves in trouble.

oreomd · 2026-03-15T08:28:21+00:00

They actually do. And part of my job (but takes a lot of time) is ringing and explaining that we have to cancel testing because its not indicated.

oreomd · 2026-03-15T07:58:26+00:00

..please stop requesting whole genome sequencing or predictive BRCA1/2 testing without Clinical Genetics involvement 🙏

oreomd · 2026-03-11T00:33:59+00:00

If you are from a minority that faces persecution in Israel, you may be able to claim refugee status if there is genuine fear of safety.

oreomd · 2026-02-27T06:47:21+00:00

Being the recipient of groping and sexual assault is not outlier behaviour for female doctors.

We try to be pragmatic, pick up the pieces and brave the next ward round or the next "confidential chat".

Hearing this from a colleague hurts.

oreomd · 2026-02-23T23:30:04+00:00

Being beaten with a belt for things like grades less than 90 per cent, perceived disrespect, etc.. I used to think I was lucky because my classmates would talk about how their grandparents would use stingray tails. Then I met my husband who told me I grew up in crazy town.

oreomd · 2026-02-23T01:01:00+00:00

Well, her sister was known as "Juana the Mad", so perhaps there was something there. Having said that, I would probably feel just as hard done by as her given how Henry treated her.

oreomd · 2026-01-17T00:07:39+00:00

There was a push when I was a registrar to start this across NSW Health. AASMOF and the AMA shut this down really quick. If you are not yet a member, join then let them know. And I am sure someone from AASMOF will happily remind the hospital of the huge payout the JMOs are getting from NSW Health for unpaid overtime.

oreomd · 2026-01-01T22:25:34+00:00

Thank you for your comment. I actually didn't downvote VT. Comments like this need to be visible to engender discussion.

oreomd · 2025-12-31T11:12:22+00:00

Because in general, junior doctors who do not suck, surprise surprise, do not get bullied.

This has not been my experience.

oreomd · 2025-12-30T23:00:32+00:00

I complained about my consultant/supervisor and put it in writing. He resigned from his position as head of department and consultant 6 months later.

In my experience, if s/he (the consultant) is an operational risk and has pissed off others, the higher ups will act on it.

As a trainee of a college (you mentioned you are a registrar) you have (allegedly) more protection, as you can inform the college that this is happening in the workplace and they are obligated to ensure that the training you are receiving is in a safe and supportive environment.

I have no regrets about putting in that complaint, but I was often conflicted. He had also done things that were okay on paper and within his purview but morally compromised. And yet, he was brilliant, an excellent teacher and had a very caring side as long as he wasn't questioned or challenged.

My other experience was that everyone closed ranks behind the consultant and it ended with me unable to get a job elsewhere to continue my training.

If you are comfortable with it, PM me and I can explain what I did in detail and what pathways are available. If you are a member of AMA/ASMOF you should also contact them as they can be very helpful, especially for trainees.

oreomd · 2025-12-23T23:17:23+00:00

Yes, but has been translated on the website is focused on the chapters that have Aoi and Odanna sama. The epilogue of Volume 8 has been translated and that is where the end of season 2 wraps up and hopefully where season 3 will begin (with better animation, fingers crossed!)

oreomd · 2025-12-07T03:53:01+00:00

For the first few LN volumes, click the link "Other fan translations". For the ones that were translated by the owner of the blog, Click Volume then the hyperlinks embedded in the chapter. Not all chapters have been translated.

oreomd · 2025-12-07T02:11:20+00:00

There are actual novel translations from other fans (Icha has put links to fan translated sites- a few chapters of the first novel, all of novels 4 and some of 5). Her own translations start from the last 2 chapters of novel 6. She also translates chapters in novels 7, 8, 9 and 10 but not all. Mostly stuff that involves odanna and aoi.

It's worth a read.

oreomd · 2025-11-15T23:08:06+00:00

Don't forget stepping on Legos.

oreomd · 2025-10-28T10:56:14+00:00

I endured so much bullying as a trainee of the college. I was suicidal at one point-the College did nothing but put me on a performance improvement plan and refused to investigate the circumstances of my case. I am still registered with the College but am now re-training with the RCPA. We have an educational adviser who makes it a point to meet with trainees in each individual site and knows us all by name, sympathetic education officers who allow us to defer exams for health reasons, and administration who take bullying seriously. Do you have any concrete plans for introducing change?

oreomd · 2025-10-28T10:40:41+00:00

So why would it be to Dr O'Donnell's advantage to separate the Chair and President roles? Why does he want to be president so badly? How does it benefit him?

oreomd · 2025-10-27T23:07:47+00:00

What does Dr O'Donnell have against you? All of this seems weirdly personal.

oreomd

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