Neurocognitive Disorders: Medical Illness or Mental Disorder: Examining the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 (Vic) Using Neurocognitive Disorders.

Victoria has new legislation, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 (Vic) (MHWA) to govern the care and treatment of people with mental illness that came into effect on 1 September 2023. It takes a human rights approach with a focus on person-centred care. The definition of mental illness encompasses conditions such as dementia even though it is rarely used to manage such conditions.

Supportive/Substitute Decision-making and Capacity in Victoria: Compliance with Australia's Obligations under the CRPD?

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) restates human rights through the lens of disability. One of the key rights relates to equality before the law. This has been interpreted as requiring the abolition of substitute decision-making regimes.

Management of Behaviours in Dementia: Treatment or Restraint?

The use of antipsychotic medication in the management of behaviours of concern in dementia is complex. Antipsychotics may be part of medical treatment or be a restrictive practice. The uncertainty around consent for restrictive practices exposes patients to the risk of antipsychotic use without consent and doctors to the risk of liability.

Psychotropic drug-induced falls in older people: a review of interventions aimed at reducing the problem.

Falls are a common health problem for older people, and psychotropic medications have been identified as an important independent fall risk factor. The objective of this paper was to review the literature relating to the effect of psychotropic medications on falls in older people, with a particular focus on evidence supporting minimization of their use to reduce risk of falls. A literature search identified 18 randomized trials meeting the inclusion criteria for the review of effectiveness of psychotropic medication withdrawal studies, including four with falls outcomes.

Description of an orthopedic-geriatric model of care in Australia with 3 years data.

Aim: Orthopedic-geriatric units have been established worldwide to improve the care of older patients admitted with fractures. This study describes one type of orthopedic-geriatric model which has been implemented in Victoria, Australia, named the Orthopedic Aged Care and Rehabilitation Service (OARS) and evaluates patient characteristics and outcomes including inpatient mortality.

Methods: Eight hundred and thirty-four consecutive admissions under OARS between May 2003 and May 2006 were analyzed.