Dr Jon Fogarty has been a GP at Point Clare on the NSW Central Coast for years. He holds a conjoint lecturer position at the University of Newcastle and his practice is involved in training medical students and registrars. He has contributed regularly to Australian Doctor for many years and moderates Australian Doctor's education seminars in Sydney.
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“I feed him now,” my patient said, and then paused. “I don’t think he’s sure what food is any more.” She was matter-of-fact, talking about her husband of 60 years who was now demented, cared for by…
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I have some sympathy for drug seekers. They are on a desperate, dangerous and demeaning circuit. At best they are living a chaotic chapter of their lives; at worst they can be intimidating and…
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I’m thinking of forming a local chapter of CA: Chocoholics Anonymous. A safe place where the afflicted can seek solace and support from the like-minded.
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It’s not a good time for retailers. Consumers have gone to water, reducing debt, paying off the credit card and generally being unco-operative in the buying business.
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Rarely do I find myself sympathising with insurance companies. They bug me at work. They send letters demanding reports on the health of patients and ring and harass if the report is not immediately…
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At a time when the end of my career is more closely visible than the beginning, I am alarmed by the number of diagnoses I have never made.
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Despite the variety of general practice, there are some days when it feels like Groundhog Day. Moments when I think, “I’ve just done this … I’ve done this a hundred times before.”
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Allow me to relate two brief, tangentially related events. I recently flew from Sydney to a country town. I booked the flight on line. En route to the airport I withdrew some money from a "cash…
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Talk around the water cooler this week turned to care plans, and we all agreed that, gee, we just love 'em. Gareth told how on Friday afternoon he drives home thinking that there are only three more…
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Here’s the thing: should principals and practice owners provide critical supplies for their employed colleagues? I’m talking about the really serious stuff. Coffee. And bickies.