Newsroom

When control is taken from someone due to terminal illness, Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) can give someone back control over their life journey. 🤍

Staff Specialist Dr Michael and Clinical Nurse Consultant Lisa have been with the Metro North VAD team since it launched in 2023 and say that education for the general public and open discussions about VAD will continue to clear up some of the misinformation and misconceptions around the process.

"We aren`t an emergency service and that is a misconception of VAD, it is a legal medical procedure that terminally ill patients who are suffering can request, which involves an assessment process with our doctors," Lisa said.

"Often people will say that they`ll choose VAD to beat their cancer, because they get to choose when they die, not the cancer. The option to choose is so important, they will not suffer or be in pain, it is a dignified and peaceful process and patients have nothing to be afraid of."

"Euthanasia is not a term we use anymore, there is different terminology in different countries but everywhere in Australia uses VAD. We really want to move away from terms like euthanasia or physician assisted suicide as that is not what it is," Dr Michael added.

"We have received just under 1300 referrals since 2023 and 99% of those people were also linked in with palliative care. VAD should be seen as complementary to palliative care as an end-of-life option for people who are suffering," he said. ...

From Belgium to Brisbane, this pair of psychiatrists have traded a "rainy and grey" climate, for a hot and sunny one. 🌞

Meeting during their time at university, Dr Catherine and Dr Hendrik-Jan have been working as psychiatrists in Belgium since 2022. In the last few months and accompanied by their two children, they have moved across the world and have found themselves at TPCH.

"I almost had the opportunity to study in England, however that fell through. Then I met Catherine and decided I wouldn`t reapply the next year," Dr Hendrink-Jan said.

"I always had in mind that I wanted to live abroad, so when we learnt of the opportunity that they were looking for medical professionals, I twisted Catherine`s arm and now we are here."

"We visited in September and The Prince Charles really spoke to us, it had that friendly and familiar vibe and Brisbane is a very family friendly city," Dr Catherine said.

"Everyone has been so welcoming, we are still both learning a new healthcare organisation but that`s why we wanted to move, for the challenge and to experience something new."

👏#ShoutoutSaturday to Dr Catherine and Dr Hendrik-Jan on their newfound adventure in Brisbane! ...

Metro North Public Health Unit staff spend their days making sure us Queenslanders are prepared for and protected against any health hazards that may arise. ⚠️

Environmental Health Officers (EHO) like Sanka both proactively and reactively manage investigations into environmental concerns that could present dangers to the general public.

"We look after inspections including foreign matter complaints, suspected food borne illness, managing lead notifications, outbreak investigations, and substance authority license inspections," Sanka said.

"I would say something that is interesting yet challenging are the fumigation cases, our involvement with that is to assess someone`s compliance with legislation and process and as part of that you need to understand the process yourself.

"I always liked to be challenged and continue learning and Environmental Health has so many different areas that you can work in from a public health unit like this, local government or even policy so there are always opportunities for learning." ...