Chris Ryan - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Chris Ryan

Research paper thumbnail of Optimising management of delirium

BMJ, 2001

Editor-In his editorial on the General Medical Council, Smith asks a question that is in danger o... more Editor-In his editorial on the General Medical Council, Smith asks a question that is in danger of becoming a self fulfilling prophecy. 1 He fairly describes differences of view in the British medical profession about governance and the introduction of revalidation. He then asks whether it is worth expending the effort required to ensure the GMC's survival on the grounds of its being dysfunctional, even suggesting that it might be better to scrap it and start again. We write as a disparate group of senior doctors who have been intimately involved in the debate on the future of the GMC. We have held differing views about the solutions that might be offered but are united on the over-riding importance of professionally led regulation in partnership with the public. In this, we concur with Smith that most doctors wish to practise to the highest possible standards and that the model of the intrusive regulatory scrutiny practised by casino operators is totally inappropriate to the medical profession. We believe, from very different perspectives, that the GMC should be allowed to develop into a better organisation for doctors and, more importantly, for patients. Smith's implication that we should start looking at fresh alternatives begs the question as to who would be entrusted do this work and whether the result would be any better equipped for the challenges faced by a 21st century regulator in an increasingly complicated society. Any "fresh start" would still have to deal with governance and revalidation, which have been firmly placed on the current agenda by the present GMC. The abyss Smith describes is certainly there, and the GMC may be at its edge. Despite its current problems, however, the GMC is the crucible of our professionalism and without it doctors in this country would become mere technicians. Any alternative to professionally led regulation is unthinkable.

Research paper thumbnail of Long time, no see. Australians with mental illnesses wait too long before independent review of detention

Alternative Law Journal, 2010

Imagine that you found yourself arrested in a New South Wales country town; Dubbo, for example. T... more Imagine that you found yourself arrested in a New South Wales country town; Dubbo, for example. The local constabulary tell you that you are guilty of some offence and that you are now looking at several weeks inside. You know you are innocent. If you know the law, you are anxious, certainly, but you are not dismayed. You know that in New South Wales the police must 'as soon as is reasonably practicable, take [you] … before an authorised officer to be dealt with according to law'. 1 This will be a magistrate, or another independent person, who will review your arrest. You also know that in New South Wales 'as soon as is reasonably practicable' is normally interpreted as being within 24 hours, 365 days of the year.

Research paper thumbnail of Rising to the human rights challenge in compulsory treatment – new approaches to mental health law in Australia

Rising to the human rights challenge in compulsory treatment – new approaches to mental health law in Australia

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2012

Objective: To analyse, and explain to Australasian psychiatrists, recent proposed changes to the ... more Objective: To analyse, and explain to Australasian psychiatrists, recent proposed changes to the terms of coercive treatment for mental illness in Tasmania and Victoria and to place the proposals in the context of a broader human rights framework that is likely to impact the future shape of mental health legislation more generally. Methods: The Australian law reform proposals are reviewed against the requirements of numerous human rights instruments, including the recently ratified United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Ethical and legal arguments are made to support the proposed changes and to introduce others, taking into account academic commentary on mental health law and recent empirical work on the ability to usefully categorise patients by their likelihood of harm to self and others. Results: The Victorian and Tasmanian draft mental health bills propose a new basis for compulsory psychiatric treatment in Australasia. If they become law, coercive...

Research paper thumbnail of Optimising management of delirium

BMJ, 2001

Editor-In his editorial on the General Medical Council, Smith asks a question that is in danger o... more Editor-In his editorial on the General Medical Council, Smith asks a question that is in danger of becoming a self fulfilling prophecy. 1 He fairly describes differences of view in the British medical profession about governance and the introduction of revalidation. He then asks whether it is worth expending the effort required to ensure the GMC's survival on the grounds of its being dysfunctional, even suggesting that it might be better to scrap it and start again. We write as a disparate group of senior doctors who have been intimately involved in the debate on the future of the GMC. We have held differing views about the solutions that might be offered but are united on the over-riding importance of professionally led regulation in partnership with the public. In this, we concur with Smith that most doctors wish to practise to the highest possible standards and that the model of the intrusive regulatory scrutiny practised by casino operators is totally inappropriate to the medical profession. We believe, from very different perspectives, that the GMC should be allowed to develop into a better organisation for doctors and, more importantly, for patients. Smith's implication that we should start looking at fresh alternatives begs the question as to who would be entrusted do this work and whether the result would be any better equipped for the challenges faced by a 21st century regulator in an increasingly complicated society. Any "fresh start" would still have to deal with governance and revalidation, which have been firmly placed on the current agenda by the present GMC. The abyss Smith describes is certainly there, and the GMC may be at its edge. Despite its current problems, however, the GMC is the crucible of our professionalism and without it doctors in this country would become mere technicians. Any alternative to professionally led regulation is unthinkable.

Research paper thumbnail of Long time, no see. Australians with mental illnesses wait too long before independent review of detention

Alternative Law Journal, 2010

Imagine that you found yourself arrested in a New South Wales country town; Dubbo, for example. T... more Imagine that you found yourself arrested in a New South Wales country town; Dubbo, for example. The local constabulary tell you that you are guilty of some offence and that you are now looking at several weeks inside. You know you are innocent. If you know the law, you are anxious, certainly, but you are not dismayed. You know that in New South Wales the police must 'as soon as is reasonably practicable, take [you] … before an authorised officer to be dealt with according to law'. 1 This will be a magistrate, or another independent person, who will review your arrest. You also know that in New South Wales 'as soon as is reasonably practicable' is normally interpreted as being within 24 hours, 365 days of the year.

Research paper thumbnail of Rising to the human rights challenge in compulsory treatment – new approaches to mental health law in Australia

Rising to the human rights challenge in compulsory treatment – new approaches to mental health law in Australia

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2012

Objective: To analyse, and explain to Australasian psychiatrists, recent proposed changes to the ... more Objective: To analyse, and explain to Australasian psychiatrists, recent proposed changes to the terms of coercive treatment for mental illness in Tasmania and Victoria and to place the proposals in the context of a broader human rights framework that is likely to impact the future shape of mental health legislation more generally. Methods: The Australian law reform proposals are reviewed against the requirements of numerous human rights instruments, including the recently ratified United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Ethical and legal arguments are made to support the proposed changes and to introduce others, taking into account academic commentary on mental health law and recent empirical work on the ability to usefully categorise patients by their likelihood of harm to self and others. Results: The Victorian and Tasmanian draft mental health bills propose a new basis for compulsory psychiatric treatment in Australasia. If they become law, coercive...