The Medical Board of Australia has released new data showing doctors over 70 are 81 per cent more likely to be the subject of a complaint than their younger counterparts.
Older doctors would be forced to undergo health checks to ensure they can safely treat patients under a crackdown by Australia’s medical watchdog.
“We are looking for effective and practical ways to support late-career doctors to stay in safe practice, through health checks that will identify and enable doctors to address any risks that come from increasing age,” she said. He said older doctors had greater experience and played an important role in training and mentoring younger doctors.In a discussion paper to be released on Wednesday, the board, which is overseen by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, detailed three regulatory options for late-career doctors: do nothing, introduce a “fitness to practise” test for doctors 70 and older, or roll out general health checks for doctors 70 and older.
The results of these checks would remain confidential unless a treating practitioner reported a doctor to the board for refusing to manage risks to patients caused by their ill health.
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