Tag: informed consent
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Australia considers crackdown on doulas after tragic birth deaths
Growing calls for regulation after high-profile deaths Australian health authorities are considering a crackdown on doulas and other unregulated birth workers following a string of tragic deaths among mothers and babies during or after labor. Peak medical bodies have been vocal about the need for clearer standards, informed consent, and safer birth practices as part…
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Ketamine in First-Responder Mental Health Care: Promise, Risks, and the Unregulated Landscape
Ketamine and first responders: a new approach to treatment Combining psychotherapy with low-dose ketamine—a dissociative drug historically used for anesthesia—has emerged as a relatively new option for treating severe depression and post-traumatic stress in high-trauma populations. Firefighters, police officers, and military members, who historically face elevated trauma exposure, are among the groups exploring ketamine-assisted psychotherapy…
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CDC Updates Immunization Guidelines: Informed Consent Returns and Varicella as a Standalone Shot
Overview: A Shift Toward Individual Decision-Making The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised its adult and child immunization schedules, moving away from universal COVID-19 vaccination recommendations toward a model that emphasizes individual decision-making. The agency now encourages shared clinical decision making and asks patients and parents to discuss risks and benefits…
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CDC Updates Immunization Guidelines: Informed Consent Returns as COVID-19 Strategy Shifts
Overview: A Shift Toward Individual-Based Decisions The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released updated immunization schedules that mark a pivot from universal COVID-19 vaccination recommendations to a framework emphasizing informed, individual-based decision-making. In a move described by health officials as returning autonomy to clinicians and patients, the 2025 updates place emphasis…
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Delayed Diagnosis and Damaged Diagnosis: The Barwon Health Necrotising Fasciitis Case
Overview: A life-altering medical delay A Victorian couple has joined a legal action against Barwon Health, the operator of University Hospital Geelong, after their diagnosis of a rare, fast-moving infection—necrotising fasciitis—was reportedly delayed. The case highlights how a seemingly minor injury can escalate into a life-threatening medical emergency when early signs are missed and timely…