Tag Archives: Flippant

My last laugh

  This column marks the end of four years of my writing for the Medical Observer column Humerus. The GP magazine is undergoing a major revamp and there just ain’t no more room for the funny bits. That’s okay; publication … Continue reading

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I could have been a logician

With medical jobs so commonplace, I sometimes fantasise about alternative career choices. Three logicians walk into a bar. Says the bartender, “Would all three of you like a cider?” The first logician replies “I don’t know,” the second also says … Continue reading

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GP’s pocket guide to the partialists

As a career generalist, it’s easy to forget that many friends from med school – even some of the smarter ones – chose to limit themselves to just one organ. Medicine is a broad church, and every church needs an … Continue reading

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How Melbourne Uni survived 20 years without me

As I walked through the grounds of Melbourne University last week—my first time for twenty years—I decided to dedicate this column to medical students. I felt poignantly nostalgic about my own experiences, and also judged it an opportunity for a … Continue reading

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GPs Down Under

I GPDU; do U? If that sentence makes any sense, you’re probably already a member of the Facebook group GPs Down Under. And a good interpreter of poor syntax. It’s the only phrase I’ve ever written which has been turned … Continue reading

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Newsflash: doctor sees patients on time

BRISBANE: At a suburban clinic yesterday, every single patient during the morning session was called into their appointment on time. Dr Justin Coleman, GP at Inala Indigenous Health, described the extraordinary circumstances to reporters camped outside his surgery today. “It … Continue reading

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e-vapes, e-health and e-xperts

IT’S NOT often I start a column with a direct Hansard quote, but South Australian Liberal senator Anne Ruston provided pure gold during last month’s budget estimates hearing on NEHTA’s e-health. The National e-Health Transition Authority is tasked with creating … Continue reading

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When a GP goes to his GP

I went to my GP this year. Apparently patients do that sort of thing all the time, but it felt odd, giving over the swivel chair. I hadn’t realised the degree of power inferred by a collared shirt and castor … Continue reading

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Winter; discontent; you know the drill.

Winter is coming As any Game of Thrones character will tell you – and most eventually do – winter is coming. In the land of general practice, a long way from the nearest fur-coated dwarf or icicled king, we instead … Continue reading

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Weird diagnoses your doctor can select, but probably shouldn’t

Has your doctor has ever diagnosed you with Hair in the Urine or Donald Duck Speech? I’m a doctor and have no idea how to treat either condition. My wild guess might be a sieve and a good gargle—in that … Continue reading

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