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Precedent (Australian Lawyers Alliance) |
ALA MEDICAL LAW CONFERENCE 2022
By Bridie Walsh
The Australian Lawyers Alliance Medical Law Conference 2022 was an enormous success, with a multitude of attendees and diverse range of speakers. What a fantastic excuse for a quick mid-winter jaunt to Sydney!
Nearly 100 attendees from across Australia attended the Conference this year after a couple of unstable, COVID-interrupted years, and there was much excitement about catching up in person again. The day was also filmed so that those who were unable to travel could tune in to see the incredible range of presenters.
The day began with a Welcome to Country from Elder Brendan Kerin – his honesty was incredibly moving.
Professor Richard Harper AM, Emeritus Director of Monash Heart, Monash Health, opened the program with a substantive discussion on cardiac cases and the intricacies of heart attacks.
Next was the damages panel which included Lauren Alach (occupational therapist), Jnana Gumbert (barrister), Olamide Kowalik (Special Counsel, Revolution Law) and this writer as the Chair. The panel was a highlight of the day for many, exploring the importance of accurate and unbiased OT assessments in providing quantum on medical law claims.
After a brief morning tea break (which included mingling with co-attendees as well as, in my case, playing darts to win a wireless phone charger at the sponsor tables), we heard from a brilliant team of nurses including Kristi Gilbert (RN), Denise Donaldson (RN) and Janette Henderson. The panel discussed the increased role of nurses in the medical setting and how to use expert nursing and midwifery opinion appropriately in medical law claims.
Neurosurgeon Dr Gautam Khurana came next, giving a thoughtful outline of the role of the medico-legal expert when investigating and reporting for the purpose of litigation.
After lunch we heard from Dr Andrew Numa, paediatric intensivist, who gave a captivating performance and educated the crowd on the complexities of childhood infectious diseases.
Then we heard from Adrian Walsh, Professor of Philosophy from the University of New England. He spoke about ethical issues that arise in the context of medical negligence cases.
Jane Campbell, Principal at Aeran, was the second to last speaker, who among other things demystified the process for calculation of an NDIS repayment once a compensation claim has been finalised.
Finally we heard the annual (and thoroughly informative) case law update from Bill Madden, Rob Davis and Julian Johnson about recent developments in the law.
Overall, this was an excellent day and one that was incredibly well run, researched and put together by the brilliant team at the ALA. We cannot wait for next years’ conference!
Bridie Walsh is an Associate in Medical Law at Slater & Gordon Lawyers and has been the secretary of the ALA Medical Law SIG since 2020. She has previously been a finalist in the LIV rising star awards and in the Lawyers Weekly 30 under 30 awards in 2018 and 2022.
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URL: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/PrecedentAULA/2022/57.html