Health checks for doctors over 70, including ophthalmologists, are being considered as data reveals the number of patient complaints jumps significantly as medical professionals get older.
The Medical Board of Australia (MBA) is keen to hear what doctors, patients and the wider health sector think about regulatory options for keeping late career doctors in safe practice.
Doctors still practising over the age of 70 make up a relatively small proportion of the medical workforce, but Ahpra figures show they attract a disproportionate number of complaints.
The data shows they are 81% more likely to be the subject of a notification for any reason (not just impairment) than those under 70.
Overall, the rate of notifications about late career doctors has almost doubled during the eight years to 2023, rising from 36.2 notifications per 1,000 practitioners aged 70 and older in 2015, to 69.5 complaints per 1,000 last year.
Notifications for doctors in the 70-74 year age bracket have risen more than 130% from 32 notifications for 1,000 doctors in 2015, to more than 74 per 1,000 in 2023. For medical practitioners aged 80 and over, notifications climbed by more than 180% per 1,000 doctors between 2015 and 2023. In comparison, notifications about doctors aged under 70 years have increased from 23.4 to 38.3 per 1,000 (63%) over the same period.
Those complaints covered a number of areas, including issues relating to clinical care (52% higher over the eight years), communication (141% higher), and pharmacological or medication (162% higher).
Health checks for older doctors is one of three options being considered. These are set out in the consultation regulation impact statement:
- Keep the status quo and do nothing extra to ensure late career doctors are healthy and able to provide safe care.
- Introduce an extensive and detailed ‘fitness to practise’ assessment for all doctors aged 70 and older, to be conducted by specialist occupational physicians.
- Introduce general health checks with a GP for late career doctors aged 70 and older, to support early detection of concerns with the opportunity for management before the public is at risk.
The board favours Option three as best for patient safety and for keeping doctors in control of their careers as they age. The proposal would require doctors from the age of 70 years to undergo general health checks with their GP or another doctor every three years, and yearly from 80 years of age.
MBA chair, Dr Anne Tonkin AO, said measures to identify issues earlier that may impact a doctor’s practice could prevent future patient harm and provide opportunities for practitioners to take action to extend their careers.
“It’s in line with all public health screening measures. Early detection means early management, which can mean preventing avoidable risks,” Dr Tonkin said.
“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.”
Proposals for keeping late career doctors in safe practice are now open for public comment.
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