Aust Fam Physician
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Imprisonment rates in Australia have been steadily increasing over the past decade. Prisoners have high rates of substance use and dependence, mental illness, self harming behaviours and infectious disease. ⋯ The standard of health care provided for prisoners should be equivalent to that available in the general community. Medical officers working within prisons need to be competent GPs with particular skills in managing the unique patterns of morbidity encountered. In addition, public health advocacy, an ability to examine the frequent ethical issues at stake, and close links with colleagues both within prisons and in the community are needed.
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The work challenges faced by doctors, nurses and other health professionals in the humanitarian field are overwhelming. ⋯ It is impossible not to be psychologically affected by witnessing gross acts of violence, starvation, epidemics, displacement and despair, or hearing tales of slaughter, rape and killing. Just as those populations who are subjected to traumatic experiences develop post-traumatic psychological problems, so too can those humanitarian workers who assist them.
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Case histories are based on actual medical negligence claims, however, certain facts have been omitted or changed by the author to ensure the anonymity of the parties involved. Despite the best intentions of medical practitioners, things do go wrong from time to time and a patient may experience an adverse outcome as a result of a medical practitioner's actions. This article discusses some of the issues that general practitioners should consider when things go wrong.