Coronavirus

[Sintiger]

Is the AMA more of a Union or is it a professional association like CPA? How does it relate to the various Colleges (of Surgeons, gps etc) what percentage of doctors are members?

Less than 25% of doctors are members of the AMA. I am not totally aware of everything they do but in the public sector they negotiate the EBAs for doctors in public hospitals. They also have some training but the major training is done through the specialist colleges that you mention as they run accreditation for those craft groups.
There are plenty of doctors I know who have no time for the AMA.

 

[AngryAnt]

Ok. I assume if he made the comment then he must think they are left leaning.

I’ve had a bit to do with the AMA and that isn’t my experience.

Yes, but anyone to the left of Donald J Trump is left leaning for Lee. I know they recognise that climate change is a thing that will have real impacts on infectious disease transmission so that's a red flag.

To stop being snarky and answer your original question, I've always regarded the AMA as usually promoting a science/medical agenda rather than being right or left. I've not had anything to do with them professionally however.

 

[Sintiger]

Yes, but anyone to the left of Donald J Trump is left leaning for Lee. I know they recognise that climate change is a thing that will have real impacts on infectious disease transmission so that's a red flag.

To stop being snarky and answer your original question, I've always regarded the AMA as usually promoting a science/medical agenda rather than being right or left. I've not had anything to do with them professionally however.

I wish the AMA did stick with what you say.
Ultimately their major KPI is maximising the incomes of doctors and in that they do a very good job

 

[DjJazzyPete]

Getting worse in Southern Africa.. the new strain is here and spreading fast .. "Botswanan government has introduced a ban on alcohol sales to slow the spread of COVID-19. The restrictions will take effect immediately ..." Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) - Botswana has extended nighttime curfew (7pm to 4 am )to 31 January, as part of protocols to control COVID-19 pandemic

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

Ok. I assume if he made the comment then he must think they are left leaning.

I’ve had a bit to do with the AMA and that isn’t my experience.

Could've sworn someone representing the AMA spoke in support of legalisation of rec drugs earlier this year. Can't find it but have found plenty to the contrary. I retract the assertion. For now.

 

[kyuss]

Could've sworn someone representing the AMA spoke in support of legalisation of rec drugs earlier this year. Can't find it but have found plenty to the contrary. I retract the assertion. For now.

That wouldn't suprise me if someone in a medical association was in favour of the decriminalisation of drugs. If you look at Portugal, who decriminalised all drugs in 2001, there has been a drop in many drug related health issues, like HIV, Hepatitis and death through overdose ect.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

That wouldn't suprise me if someone in a medical association was in favour of the decriminalisation of drugs. If you look at Portugal, who decriminalised all drugs in 2001, there has been a drop in many drug related health issues, like HIV, Hepatitis and death through overdose ect.

Mmm well this is the wrong place for it but there have been allegations about doctoring of statistics. There's a lot of people invested in Portugal being seen as a success.

I was shocked to read the apparent support and would lose faith in the AMA if that was their official stance.

Edit: The article referred to concerned pill testing (which the AMA supports as policy) and one member took the opportunity to extrapolate a little.

 

[kyuss]

Mmm well this is the wrong place for it but there have been allegations about doctoring of statistics. There's a lot of people invested in Portugal being seen as a success.

Fair enough. After i posted realised it was the wrong place for it. Apologise.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

Fair enough. After i posted realised it was the wrong place for it. Apologise.

Nah I'll take the blame. Been doing it a bit lately.

 

[Sintiger]

Could've sworn someone representing the AMA spoke in support of legalisation of rec drugs earlier this year. Can't find it but have found plenty to the contrary. I retract the assertion. For now.

They could well have but I’d be surprised if that was an AMA position, could be wrong. It is a position some doctors hold.

My point about the AMA is that their main agenda is about maximising doctors incomes. Not sure if that is left or right wing? Their political agenda moves around but much of it is about employing more doctors.

As I said I am not totally across what they do in GP land but the people I know who are involved with them would individually not be left leaning, unless being the key demographic for cash franking credits, negative gearing and abandoning the luxury car tax have suddenly become left wing policies.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

They could well have but I’d be surprised if that was an AMA position, could be wrong. It is a position some doctors hold.

My point about the AMA is that their main agenda is about maximising doctors incomes. Not sure if that is left or right wing? Their political agenda moves around but much of it is about employing more doctors.

As I said I am not totally across what they do in GP land but the people I know who are involved with them would individually not be left leaning, unless being the key demographic for cash franking credits, negative gearing and abandoning the luxury car tax have suddenly become left wing policies.

Yeah I put in a little one-line intro to an article I posted that was unnecessary and has cropped up again. Apologies.

 

[MD Jazz]

Turns out Victoria was not an outlier with Corona getting out of hotel quarantine security - four times in a month in NSW.

COVID-19 breaks hotel quarantine for a fourth time in a month here

COVID-19 has broken out of hotel quarantine for a fourth time in just a month, as health authorities in Victoria and NSW fight to keep on top of outbreaks.

www.news.com.au

Looking forward to Peta Credlin, Baxen-face and the Dan Andrews haters to tear into the NSW premier for this.

It is very poor. And potentially disastrous for the country. But it’s pretty clear that NSW has managed outbreaks better.

But should be no excuses for mistakes at this point in quarantine management.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

Looking forward to Peta Credlin, Baxen-face and the Dan Andrews haters to tear into the NSW premier for this.

Have said twice that I don't believe we should be accepting travellers from overseas at this stage, but that wasn't a popular view either. Can't win.

At least NSW didn't entrust the process to poorly-trained employees rustled up at the last minute via Instagram.

 

[kyuss]

As just a casual observer it is fascinating that the NSW outbreak hasn't taken off to the extent of the Victorian one.

Agree. Maybe it's just dumb luck that the people who got it in sydney were more responsible than those who got it melbourne. Maybe the warmer weather now its summer has played a part. Also people potentially being more dilligent since the outbreak in Melbourne.
I actually have less than zero expertise in this field, just brain storming. Either way its a good thing, cos I would hate to see Sydney go what we went through or worse. Please let it continue.

 

[AngryAnt]

I wish the AMA did stick with what you say.
Ultimately their major KPI is maximising the incomes of doctors and in that they do a very good job

Right, which is probably one of the main goals of a professional association. I would have written that in but thought it was pretty obvious.

 

[AngryAnt]

Could've sworn someone representing the AMA spoke in support of legalisation of rec drugs earlier this year.

When it comes to public health policy they are usually science and evidence based, so it wouldn't surprise me if they had said that.

 

[AngryAnt]

Meanwhile things are not good in the UK. This new strain is big problem.

UK virus cases rising in a ‘vertical line’

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a six-week total lockdown of Britain and parliament has been urgently recalled, as the country struggles to curb the spread of a new, more infectious strain of the disease.

www.news.com.au

 

[Sintiger]

It is very poor. And potentially disastrous for the country. But it’s pretty clear that NSW has managed outbreaks better.

But should be no excuses for mistakes at this point in quarantine management.

I have posted on many occasions MD that hotel quarantine was never the big problem, it was what happened after the infections were discovered.
The comfort I have is that since the 2nd wave there have been clusters in Victoria, south Australia and NSW and none of them have got away from those state jurisdictions. I think that shows that whilst we can discuss the methods and why they occurred in the first place the contact tracing is working now, basically everywhere

 

[Midsy]

Meanwhile things are not good in the UK. This new strain is big problem.

UK virus cases rising in a ‘vertical line’

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a six-week total lockdown of Britain and parliament has been urgently recalled, as the country struggles to curb the spread of a new, more infectious strain of the disease.

www.news.com.au

It looks like we’re back into full lockdown tonight (in about 10 mins actually).

 

[Tigers of Old]

As just a casual observer it is fascinating that the NSW outbreak hasn't taken off to the extent of the Victorian one.

Maybe learnt some lessons from the Federally managed aged care fiasco..