Episode 103: Clinical ethics | Eternal conundrums

Episode 103: Clinical ethics | Eternal conundrums

Ethics, codes of conduct, and challenging decisions are universal constants in medicine. Difficult situations and trying to do the right thing are not always obvious particularly when these decisions involve lots of emotions, family members, and have life and death implications. Ethics, and ethics committees, can help to provide a clear and consensus path for clinicians, patients, and family members. We discuss the role ethics and ethics committees have in modern medicine with our special guest. This is the story of clinical ethics. Useful links: Free critical thinking course through UQ school of philosophy [https://hpi.uq.edu.au/study-online-philosophy-and-critical-thinking-course] Clinical Ethics Society of Australasia [https://www.clinicalethicssociety.org/cesa-news/save-the-date-28-oct-2026-so-you-want-to-start-a-clinical-ethics-service] – Great organisation focusing on clinical ethics, with affordable membership and lots of access to resources. They run an excellent ‘ethics intensive’ and yearly symposium as well as other masterclasses throughout the year. Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law [https://aabhl.org/about-us/] – Major organisation for ethics and health law. Excellent conference each year. Links to Dr Melanie Jansen’s poetry [https://www.drmjansen.com/] Instragram: @drmelaniejansen_poetry [https://www.instagram.com/drmelaniejansen_poetry/] Dr Melanie Jansen’s debut poetry collection, All That Could Be Lost, is available online from 5 Islands Press [https://www.5islandspress.com/category/all-products] and at independent bookstores. Our Special Guest: Dr Melanie Jansen who is a clinical ethicist and paediatric intensive care consultant Listen: This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify. Members of the RACGP are able to log the hours as CPD (Education) [https://thismedicallife.com.au/cpd-hours/] that they listen to the episodes under self record via Quick log. We invite you to help support us on our donation page [https://thismedicallife.com.au/buy/donation]. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Episode 102: Lipoprotein (a) | Genetic Cholesterol

Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) was discovered in 1963 by a Norwegian geneticist by the name of Kåre Berg who studied particles that carried cholesterol in the blood. He found some patients had an additional protein on the low-density lipoprotein. Studies found that patients with elevated Lp(a) had increased risks of cardiovascular disease. However, the levels were not affected by diet, environmental factors, or medications. The result is that this test was largely ignored for the last few decades. Recent dyslipidaemia guidelines released by the United States and Europe have returned a focus back on to Lp(a). They recommend that patients should have Lp(a) tested once throughout their life to assess their cardiovascular disease risk. The result can help identify which patients are at a higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and who will benefit from lifestyle modification and early intervention. This resource is referenced during the discussion: https://www.lpaclinicalguidance.com/ [https://www.lpaclinicalguidance.com/] This is the story of lipoprotein (a). Our Special Guests: Dr Michael Page is a chemical pathologist at Clinipath in Perth, senior lecturer at the UWA Medical School, and immediate past President of the AMA (WA). Listen: This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify. Members of the RACGP are able to log the hours as CPD (Education) [https://thismedicallife.com.au/cpd-hours/] that they listen to the episodes under self record via Quick log. We invite you to help support us on our donation page [https://thismedicallife.com.au/buy/donation]. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Episode 101: Psoriasis | Skin, Immunity, And The Marks We Carry

Skin has always told stories. For thousands of years, those whose skin behaved differently — scaling, thickening, inflaming — were feared, isolated, and misunderstood. Psoriasis was long lumped together with leprosy, its sufferers cast out rather than cared for. It would take centuries before medicine began to separate these conditions, and longer still before we understood what was really happening beneath the surface. Psoriasis is not an infection, not a curse, not a failure of hygiene. It is the immune system turning on itself, a complex, chronic inflammatory disease that affects not just skin but joints, confidence, and quality of life. It touches roughly 2-3% of the population, and for many it is a lifelong companion. Today we have a clinical dermatologist and a dermatopathologist to help us understand what psoriasis looks like to the clinician, what it reveals under the microscope, and how our understanding of its immunological roots has transformed the way we treat it. This is the story of psoriasis. Our Special Guests: Associate Professor Laura Scardamaglia, a Consultant Dermatologist, a Fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatology, and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne. Dr Grace Liu is an Anatomical Pathologist with Histopath in Sydney, Australia. Listen: This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify. Help support us on our donation page [https://thismedicallife.com.au/buy/donation]. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Episode 100: The Artful Dodger | James McNamara

The Artful Dodger is a television series on Disney+ that is a historical medical drama set in 1850s Australia with Jack Dawkins, the Artful Dodger from the world of Oliver Twist. Jack is a former pick pocket now surgeon who is reacquainted with old partner in crime, Fagin, who is keen for Jack to resume old habits. The Artful Dodger takes pride in being one of the most historically accurate depictions of nineteenth century medicine and surgery. The hospital, surgical tools, and treatments are accurate portrayals of what we knew back then. We organised a discussion with its creator to take a deep dive into this entertaining show that both myself and Steve thoroughly enjoyed. This is the story of The Artful Dodger Our Special Guest: James McNamara who is the creator, showrunner, head writer, and executive producer of The Artful Dodger available on Disney+. Listen: This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify. Help support us on our donation page [https://thismedicallife.com.au/buy/donation]. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Episode 99: Graves’ Disease | Hyperthyroidism & Thyrotoxicosis

The complex symptomatology of hormonal diseases only started to be recognised in the 19th century as we learned about anatomy and physiology. When Doctor Robert Graves began piecing the hyperthyroid puzzle together when he saw patients with similar symptoms such as anxiousness, nervousness, aggitation, bulging eyes, and rapid/irregular heart rate. He realised this was a previously unknown condition to the medical field. It would not be until the mid-20th century before we had a full understanding of the thyroid and thyroid diseases. Today, we have tests to diagnose and medications to manage. Graves’ disease accounts for 70-80% of all cases of hyperthyroidism. This is the story of Graves’ Disease. Our Guests: Dr Liam Mulcahy who is studying physicians training with a strong interest in neurology. He was written a book called Beyond the White Coat: The Faces Behind Medical Eponyms [https://amzn.to/487NAPI]. Professor Duncan Topliss who is a senior endocrinologist at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Monash University. Listen: This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify. Help support us on our donation page [https://thismedicallife.com.au/buy/donation]. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.