Defamation claims are damaging - professionally and financially - they should be avoided if possible. In order to be defamed, there must first be a publication communicated by one person to at least one other person, apart from the person defamed. The publication must also convey the defamatory meaning which can arise from the literal meaning of the words, reading between the lines or a combination of what is stated and what persons already know.

Many of our surgeons somehow find time to have second lives outside their busy hospital commitments. Over the last 10 years, the Bentivoglio family have planted 8,000 trees, imported a huge olive press and now produce an internationally recognized, award winning olive oil.

Commitment to continuing to raise professional development standards in medicine should be high on the list of priorities for all practitioners. Dr. Catherine Green who is an advisor of Invivo’s Medical Advisory Panel, looks at why CPD programs are being offered to fellows by medical colleges.

By law according to Victorian Health Records Act 2001 and New South Wales Health Records Information Privacy Act 2002 doctors are obliged to make proper arrangements for the storage, retention and disposal of medical records. While most doctors manage this well, problems may arise where there are changes in the practice due to the sale of the practice and retirement or death of the doctor while practicing. Insurance Officer, Molly Aftab from Invivo Medical Indemnity provides doctors with guidance about the management of their medical records.