Characteristics of study sample (n=485)
| Cases * | Cases (cont'd) | ||
| Jurisdiction, n (%)† | Patient outcome, n (%)‡ | ||
| Victoria | 157 (32) | Death | 36 (8) |
| New South Wales | 130 (27) | Physical injury | 41 (9) |
| Western Australia | 87 (18) | Psychiatric injury | 28 (6) |
| New Zealand | 71 (15) | Drug dependency | 66 (14) |
| Queensland | 40 (8) | Upset to patient | 126 (27) |
| Notifier, n (%) | Risk to patient | 72 (15) | |
| Patient or patient rep | 191 (50) | No consequences | 24 (5) |
| Court | 64 (17) | Not applicable | 75 (16) |
| Medical board or council | 56 (15) | ||
| Other health professional | 20 (5) | Doctors involved | |
| Other | 50 (13) | Men, n (%) | 440 (91) |
| Number of patients, n (%)§ | Years since qualification, mean (SD) | 21.4 (9.8) | |
| 0 | 75 (16) | Specialty, n (%) | |
| 1 | 240 (51) | General practice | 285 (65) |
| 2+ | 155 (33) | Psychiatry | 43 (10) |
| Surgery | 32 (7) | ||
| Obstetrics/gynaecology | 24 (6) | ||
| Other | 52 (11) | ||
| Previous misconduct matter, n (%) | 136 (28) |
↵* All categories are mutually exclusive.
↵† Percentages were calculated using the number of available observations as the denominator. Data were missing for doctor's sex in three cases (1%); number of patients in 15 cases (3%); patient outcome in 17 cases (3%); previous disciplinary action in 18 cases (4%); specialty in 49 cases (10%); notifier in 104 cases (21%); years since qualification in 118 cases (24%); and previous misconduct matter in 18 cases (4%).
↵‡ One outcome recorded per case (the most severe) with outcomes shown in descending order of approximated severity. Percentages were calculated using the number of available observations as the denominator.
↵§ Number of patients mentioned in tribunal's decision as having been affected by the conduct.