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Membership & Values

The Australian Doctors' Fund commenced operation in April 1989 for the purpose of "strengthening, defending and promoting the patient-doctor relationship".

The Memorandum of Association of the Australian Doctors' Fund states its principal objectives:

• To maintain, improve, advance and promote the ethical standards, integrity and reputation of the medical profession,
• To maintain, improve, advance and promote health care for all Australians and ensure that there is freedom of choice of health care,
• To research, develop, establish and promote health care policies for the benefit of all Australians,
• To increase the Medical Professions' awareness of the community's continuing and changing health care needs.

The founding and current Chairman of the Australian Doctors' Fund is Dr Bruce Shepherd AM.

The Doctors Fund works with the AMA to eliminate duplication of effort as it does with other organisations such as the:

• Australian Association of Surgeons (AAS),
• Council of Procedural Specialists (COPS),
• Australian Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons,
• National Association of Practising Psychiatrists
• any other organisation wanting to join its network.

Submission on Australian Medical Education

Stephen Milgate
Executive Director, Australian Doctors' Fund

Executive Summary

The last decade has seen what could only be called an upheaval in the way medical students are educated at Australian universities. In 1998, new Deans were appointed to 8 of Australia's 10 medical schools . ... In addition to a rapid expansion in medical student numbers the last decade has also seen changes in the selection process, student population profile, course structure, course content and teaching methods.

Not everyone is happy with the changes. There is a rising chorus of concern across the medical profession that not-so-young doctors are being expected to treat patients to the same standards as their predecessors, without exposure to the necessary amount of training in anatomy (dissection of the human body), physiology, biochemistry and pathology (especially post mortem examination). This criticism could easily be dismissed as the bellow of dinosaurs, were it not so widespread and emanating from medical academics, clinical tutors and practising doctors who have no agenda other than their concern for public safety. This submission provides substantive evidence of that concern and recommendations for improvement.

Our investigation into the justification for some of the major changes in Medical Education lead us to the same conclusion as the Editor of the Australian Medical Journal, Dr Martin B Van Der Weyden, who wrote as an editor's reply in the AMJ of 1 November 2004, "Forbes [Prof. Forbes] concedes that the evidence underpinning these changes to medical education is wanting. And herein lies the rub. Despite continued calls for educational research that matters (and perhaps in keeping with opinions as to how difficult performing such research might be), the medical education community has yet to report solid evidence to support the intentions of these resource-intensive changes. The profession, hardened by the evidence-based movement, expects no less" .

The ADF asserts that there is sufficient evidence for a major rethink of the move away from basic sciences in medical undergraduate curriculum. ... Whilst self directed learning is highly desirable, abandonment of a duty to teach and educate is not. Budgetary pressures may be behind some of the changes in course content and teaching methods rather than the high ideals of education. In particular the disciplines of anatomy and pathology must be re-introduced to undergraduate medical education to ensure safe future medical practice. ...

The Australian Doctors' Fund calls on the Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training to undertake such investigations as is required to assure herself and the Federal Government that Australian medical students are being equipped to adequately meet the clinical needs of the Australian population. An independent national survey of Australian Medical students would be a good starting point. ... The ADF believes there is sufficient evidence that public safety and medical workforce productivity have been unnecessarily damaged by the wholesale adoption of changes that remain untested. Urgent action is required.

Rescuing Medical Education

"Without a good understanding of human anatomy and solid experience developing the skills needed to perform surgery, mistakes in the operating theatre are more likely to occur"
Prof John Preston Harris, Canberra Times 8/5/04

These questions need answers:

• Is Medical Education in Crisis? - and if so, who and what is responsible?
• Are we downgrading basic sciences?
• Are our teaching hospitals failing our medical students?
• How do we assess overseas trained medical education and those who claim to be competent medical practitioners? What is the acceptable standard?
• Why private medical schools? Will more medical schools help or hurt standards?
• What is the future of post graduate medical training?

Speakers include:

• Dr Bruce Shepherd, Chairman, Australian Doctors' Fund
• Professor Don Sheldon, Chairman, Council of Procedural Specialists
• Dr Bill Glasson, Federal President, Australian Medical Association
• Professor Helen Beh, CEO, Australian Orthopaedic Association
• Professor John Preston Harris, Lecturer, Sydney University Medical School
• Andrew Perry, Former V/President, Australian Medical Students Association
• Professor Bob Birrell, Centre for Population & Urban Research, Monash University
• Dr Anne Kolbe, President, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
• Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education, Science & Training
• Dror Maor, President, Australian Medical Student Association
• Professor Phillip Allen, Past President International Academy of Pathologists
• Dr Randal Williams, Senior visiting surgeon, Modbury Hospital
• Professor Guy Maddern, RP Jepson Prof of Surgery, University of Adelaide
• Professor Ian Wronski, Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine
• Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, Vice President, Federal AMA