Aust Fam Physician
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People with intellectual disability, as well as people with dementia or mental health disability, are vulnerable to sexual abuse and may lack the capacity to give valid consent to medical treatment. Their reproductive choices may be limited by their support needs, by social pressures or by sterilisation at a young age. ⋯ People with intellectual disability require education to help them resist abuse, and advocacy to ensure that their environment protects them. They require support and education when making reproductive choices and health care decisions. In cases where they do not have the capacity for informed consent, a substitute decision maker is required.
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Food allergies in children are becoming more common causing concern for parents, child carers, teachers and school principals. ⋯ With most schools, preschools and child care centres having at least one child with food allergies, general practitioners are increasingly likely to be involved in school liaison and education, as well as caring for families with food allergic children.
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Acute pain is a common presentation associated with opioid seeking behaviour. ⋯ Acute pain commonly presents as an emergency appointment 'squeezed in' between booked appointments. General practitioners have to make a rapid assessment of the possible underlying causes, relieve pain, and establish a plan for further investigation and management. Furthermore, some opioid dependent people can and do effectively feign acute pain in order to obtain opioid medication.