Announcement date
7 August 2024
Link to announcement
https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/News/Current-Consultations.aspx
Problem being addressed
Health issues tend to increase as individuals age, which can be particularly problematic for medical practitioners if they have undiagnosed health issues that negatively affect their performance and increase risk to patients. Current regulatory measures are failing to detect some late career practitioners with health issues, with consequent increased risk of patient harm and increased risk of regulatory action by the Medical Board of Australia at the end of a long career.
Proposal
The Medical Board of Australia, AHPRA, proposes that late career doctors (aged 70 and older) have regular health checks to support their health and wellbeing and to prevent patient harm.
The Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (CRIS) was prepared by Medical Board of Australia, AHPRA, and is considering the following options:
- Option 1 – Rely on existing guidance (Status quo)
- Option 2 – Require a detailed health assessment of the ‘fitness to practise’ of doctors aged 70 years and older. Detailed health assessments would be undertaken by a specialist occupational environmental physician, and would include an independent clinical assessment of the current and future capacity of the doctor to practise in their particular area of medicine.
- Option 3 – Require general health checks for late career doctors aged 70 years and older. A general health check for doctors would provide information about the doctor’s health that could lead to discussions with the health concern/s on their practice.
Assessment
Compliant