OriSinal

Good Monday Morning!  

Hope you had an enjoyable weekend! A couple of issues bubbling away in the Health cauldron today...  

Debate on euthanasia laws are big on the Greens Agenda with ACT Governmentto front the topic during questions time today. Prime Minister Gillard vowed to give her colleagues a chance at conscience vote on the subject. ACT politicians have come out to give their views on the topic, with many criticizing the Fed Govt restriction on territory matters but not directly opposing/supporting the law. ACT Greens Rattenburry says that it is "undemocratic for states and territories to have different rules regarding euthanasia".

WA Community Health Service has defended the practise of using nurses to consult with patients at emergency departments before calling a doctor. A sixteen yrs old boy, Andrew Allan, was sent home from Northam Hospital with kids panadol after showing gastro symptoms. Andrew died in his bed the next morning.   

90% of ACT pharmacies have signed up for electronic prescribing. eRX Script Exchange program would allow GPs, medical practitioners & prescribers to share prescription online and a designated retrieval point for patients to pick up their prescriptions.   

Qld alcohol and drug expert, Professor Jake Najman, warned of drug trade existing in every single school across the state. An Australian Institute of Health and Welfare survey into drug consumption found that of all the Queenslander surveyed, 21.4 % are 15 yrs old or younger and 21.7% are between the ages of 16 - 17 yrs old.   

A study into teen pregnancy has found that teenagers are prone to rapid-repeat pregnancy due to inconsistent use of contraceptives in combination with high level of smoking, drug and alcohol use. The study highlights the need for timely advise on contraception to teenage mothers.http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/193_06_200910/lew11374_fm.html  

A brutal Mexican cartel has been smuggling half a tonne of cocaine monthly to supply the demand of Perth drug community.   

Health experts have recommended early circumcision for male infants as effective combatant against STD infection such as HIV.  

Have a great start to the week!