Killing of Elderly Patients by Health Care Professionals: Insights From Coroners' Inquests and Inquiries in Three Cases.

As the world's population ages, a question of who can be trusted to look after the increasing elderly population arises. Health care professionals are commonly considered one of the group of people we entrust with our health care and maintenance of a good quality of life. Unfortunately, some abuse this trust.

An Ageing Population Creates New Challenges Around Consent to Medical Treatment.

Obtaining consent for medical treatment in older adults raises a number of complex challenges. Despite being required by ethics and the law, consent for medical treatment is not always validly sought in this population. The dynamic nature of capacity, particularly in individuals who have dementia or other cognitive impairments, adds complexity to obtaining consent.

Developing a clinical screening tool for identifying COVID-19 infection in older people dwelling in residential aged care services.

Objective: To develop and conduct preliminary feasibility testing of a clinical screening instrument for early identification of COVID-19 infection in older people residing in residential aged care services (RACS).

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using a multi-modal approach involving examination of existing literature and national guidelines for COVID-19 clinical screening, formulation of a discussion document with peer review and feasibility testing of a prototype screening tool.

Results: Existing COVID-19 clinical screening tools do not consider age-related impacts on clinical presentation.

Physical restraint deaths in a 13-year national cohort of nursing home residents.

Objective: this paper aims to investigate the nature and extent of physical restraint deaths reported to Coroners in Australia over a 13-year period.

Methods: the study comprised a retrospective cohort study of residents dwelling in accredited nursing homes in Australia whose deaths were reported to the Coroners between 1 July 2000 and 30 June 2013 and was attributed to physical restraint.

Results: five deaths in nursing home residents due to physical restraint were reported in Australia over a 13-year period.

The impact of a clinical team assisting the Coroner's investigation of healthcare-related deaths: reflections on six-years of service.

Aim: This study describes the short-term impacts of an on-site team of practising clinicians (Clinical Liaison Service, CLS), in enhancing the Coroner's investigation for the prevention of healthcare-related deaths.

Methods: An internal observational program evaluation was conducted where objective and externally verifiable achievements of CLS over a six-year period were provided in relation to definable program components.

Results: From 2003-2008, the same conceptual model for CLS was in place.