Handling professional conduct complaints against doctors

Monday, 29 Jun 2015

Avant assists doctors in responding to patient complaints throughout Australia.

There are key features that Avant believes a regulatory complaints system should have to further engender the confidence of medical practitioners and consumers alike.

Avant’s position

Download a copy of the complaints handling position paper

Avant supports:

• a nationally consistent approach to complaints handling, not only in terms of process but also in terms of outcomes
• a responsive, risk-based approach to managing complaints against medical practitioners
• effective, fair and transparent management of complaints including:
  • appropriate triaging of complaints, especially those that are minor or vexatious
  • use of transparent performance indicators relating to timeliness in the management of complaints
  • parity in timeframes so that practitioners are able to have sufficient and equivalent time to respond to regulators’ requests
  • the provision of relevant information throughout the life cycle of a complaint, to allow the practitioner to respond and stay informed
  • access to appropriate clinical input and peer review of complaints to provide professional and clinical guidance to inform regulatory decision-making
  • the ability to enter into alternative dispute resolution, where appropriate.  

For questions and comments, please contact: advocacy@avant.org.au

Key submissions