Q85 Medical and Other Health Care Services

Regular drinking may harm sperm quality

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Original article by Jill Margo
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 42 : 15-Oct-14

Research carried out in Denmark has suggested that there is a link between alcohol consumption and the quality of sperm. The study concluded that consuming more than five alcoholic drinks each week can have a negative impact on sperm quality, and very heavy drinking can seriously reduce the quality of sperm. Society for Reproductive Biology president Professor Eileen McLaughlin says the research suggests that men should curtail their alcohol consumption if they aspire to fatherhood

CORPORATES
SOCIETY FOR REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Sponsorship backflip in opera drama

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Original article by Daniel Emerson
The West Australian – Page: 9 : 14-Oct-14

Western Australian Health Minister Kim Hames says Healthway’s sponsorship deal will not be affected by any decision by WA Opera to stage "Carmen". The popular opera features scenes that depict smoking, and WA Opera removed it from the 2015 program to avoid jeopardising the $A400,000 sponsorship deal. Healthway is a government-funded health promotion agency

CORPORATES
WEST AUSTRALIAN OPERA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, HEALTHWAY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Ambulance baby seats to go amid safety furore

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Original article by James Robertson
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 3 : 14-Oct-14

Australian Paramedics’ Association president Wayne Flint has voiced concern at an apparent plan by the New South Wales (NSW) Ambulance Service not to install new child safety seats in ambulances once the current ones reach the manufacturer’s expiry date. Paramedics say the seats are used in almost all cases when children need to be transported in the vehicles. NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner maintains that new options are being looked at by the Ambulance Service

CORPORATES
AMBULANCE SERVICE OF NEW SOUTH WALES, NEW SOUTH WALES. MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIAN PARAMEDICS ASSOCIATION PTY LTD

Doctors seek drug ‘education’ ban

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Original article by Harriet Alexander
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 9 : 10-Oct-14

The No Advertising Please group has been set up by Queensland general practitioner (GP) Justin Coleman. Its aim is to persuade doctors to place a moratorium for 12 months on so-called educational visits by sales representatives of major pharmaceutical companies. In the six months to March 2014 the industry invested $A37m-plus in such promotions, and research shows that GPs are more likely to prescribe drugs being marketed at the events. The 2014 congress of the Royal Australasian College of General Practitioners in Adelaide on 11 October will be the launch venue for the No Advertising Please campaign

CORPORATES
THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, MEDICINES AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

More sex crimes are blamed on sleep condition

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Original article by Harriet Alexander
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 2 : 8-Oct-14

Sleep expert Peter Buchanan has given expert evidence in three cases of sexsomnia in the last 18 months. There is concern that some people who are facing sex offence charges are falsely claiming to suffer from this medical condition. The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research’s Dr Dev Banerjee says doctors who act as expert witnesses in such cases must be familiar with the symptoms

CORPORATES
WOOLCOCK INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALASIAN SLEEP ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED

Doctors warn treatment of children could trigger royal commission

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Original article by Sarah Whyte
The Age – Page: 6 : 6-Oct-14

A new study published in "The Medical Journal of Australia" covers the views of local paediatricians on the mandatory detention for children of asylum-seekers. Some four fifths of those surveyed believe that the treatment of the minors will trigger a future royal commission into child abuse. Another finding is that 33% of the 139 practitioners have relied on professional interpreter services when dealing with the refugee children

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF IMMIGRATION AND BORDER PROTECTION, SAVE THE CHILDREN AUSTRALIA

Mother-and-child bonding pathways ‘set in infancy’

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Original article by Harriet Alexander
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 9 : 3-Oct-14

New research conducted at the antenatal care unit of Liverpool Hospital by scientists from the University of New South Wales shows that oxytocin levels were lower in those women who had a fraught relationship with their own mothers. The hormone is vital in creating a bond with the infant, and psychiatry professor Valsamma Eapen notes that generational patterns may be detected in how well parents can establish trust with their newborn children

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UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES, LIVERPOOL HOSPITAL, KARITANE

Overseas students to miss out on internships

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Original article by Harriet Alexander
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 11 : 2-Oct-14

Many overseas medical students will not gain internships in 2015. An audit predicts that 240 students will not be offered a position on graduation. These will all be international students as places are offered to domestic students first. The Australian Medical Students’ Association estimates that about 160 graduates will be forced to go overseas. A shortage of 2,700 doctors is forecast by 2025

CORPORATES
THE AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, HEALTH WORKFORCE AUSTRALIA, MEDICAL DEANS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED

Coeliac test risks false results

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Original article by Amy Corderoy
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 13 : 1-Oct-14

Saxon Smith, New South Wales president of the Australian Medical Association, has warned consumers against using a new test for coeliac disease. It is available for $A45 from the Amcal, Amcal Max and Guardian pharmacies chains, but is only 93% reliable even according to Sigma Pharmaceuticals COO Gary Dunne. Katie Ellard, secretary of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia, has also voiced concerns about the test and the ability of chemists to offer a diagnosis to patients

CORPORATES
SIGMA PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED – ASX SIP, AMCAL MAX, AMCAL CHEMISTS, GUARDIAN CHEMISTS, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (NSW) LIMITED, GASTROENTEROLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, IMG AUSTRALIA

Financial burdens sharpen grief of cancer

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Original article by Kate Hagan
The Age – Page: 12 : 1-Oct-14

Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) has issued a new study of the financial impact on women who suffer an advanced stage of the disease. The figures show that on average the patients have out-of-pocket expenses worth $A687 a month, with drugs not covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme the biggest cost factor. BCNA CEO Maxine Morand notes that these fees and charges come as most of the affected women also forgo part of their income for some period when they are ill

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BREAST CANCER NETWORK AUSTRALIA