27 YEARS OF TENACITY

1994
The awakening to what’s going on in Australian hospitals 

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1996
Action to bring the scale of medical error to national attention commences
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ABC TV FOUR CORNERS
“Hospital Emergency”
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1998
ABC TV FOUR CORNERS
“Dead and Buried”
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1999
REPORT TO THE STATE CORONER OF VICTORIA AND VICTORIA ATTORNEY-GENERAL:
“According Due Weight” by Lorraine Long and Isaac Hermann

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INQUIRY INTO NSW HEALTH CARE COMPLAINTS COMMISSION (HCCC):
Submission to NSW Parliament Legislative Council

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AUSTRALIAN HUMANITARIAN AWARD NOMINEE:
Nomination by doctors 
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2000
HEALTH INFORMATION FOR CONSUMERS: HOW CAN MEDICARE HELP?
Participation

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e-HEALTH: ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD ISSUES
Participation
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REPORT TO STATE CORONERS OF VIC, NSW, SA, WA:
“Medical Adverse Events and the Coronial Experience of Families”

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REPORT TO STANDING COMMITTEE OF ATTORNEYS-GENERAL (SCAG):
“Coronial Systems Australia-Wide and Their Benefits” by Lorraine Long 

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REPORT TO STATE CORONER OF VICTORIA AND VICTORIAN INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC MEDICINE [VIFM]:
“The Importance of the National Coroners Information System [NCIS] and the Development of a Specialist “Medicals” Module” by Lorraine Long 

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“Medical Adverse Event Deaths:  The Data” by Lorraine Long
Report

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 “The Aged and Medical Adverse Events:  A Paradox of Care” by Lorraine Long
Report

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AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR SAFETY AND QUALITY IN HEALTH CARE:
“Medical Adverse Events and Families” by Lorraine Long
Report 

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FEDERAL MINISTER FOR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, and FEDERAL MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE: 
“Medical Adverse Events and Access to Justice”
Report 

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SUBMISSION TO QUEENSLAND ATTORNEY-GENERAL:
Queensland Draft Coroners Bill 2000  
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2001
ABC TV FOUR CORNERS
“Adverse Outcomes”

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NSW HEALTH CARE COMPLAINTS COMMISSION
Presentation to Consultative Committee Group

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AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR SAFETY & QUALITY IN HEALTH CARE
Participant Consumer Reference Network 

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“Medical Indemnity Crisis:  What About the Families?” by Lorraine Long
Report 

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“Medical Boards, National Standards, Tort Law and Medical Reform”
Report 

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NSW ATTORNEY-GENERAL:
Inquiry into Matters Arising from the Post Mortem and Anatomical Examination Practices of the NSW Institute of Forensic Medicine
Submission 

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 “Medical Adverse Events and Death Certificates: They Don’t Add Up” by Lorraine Long
Report 

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MEDICAL INDEMNITY FORUM AT NSW PARLIAMENT HOUSE 
NSW Minister for Health the Hon Craig Knowles MP
Medical Error Action Group Lorraine Long
HCCC Commissioner Ms Amanda Adrian

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3rd NATIONAL HEALTH CARE COMPLAINTS CONFERENCE
Getting Better Together Using Complaints to Improve the Quality of Our Health Services
Hypothetical: The Black Stump Hospital Scandal “Adverse Events, Whistleblowers and the Role of the Media”
Participation

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INTERN AND HMO EDUCATION SESSIONS — THE ALFRED HOSPITAL, PRAHRAN, VIC
“Facing mistakes head-on saves time, resources and reputations” 
Presentation by Lorraine Long to young doctors

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NSW COUNCIL OF QUALITY IN HEALTH CARE
Consultation with Advisory Committee to NSW Minister for Health

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NATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY FOUNDATION, BOSTON MA USA
Consultation on redress following medical adverse events  
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2002
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS HQ, WASHINGTON DC USA
Liaison on incentive to implement compensation schemes
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VETERANS’ AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER [VAMC], LEXINGTON KY USA
Liaison on valuable lessons of ethical, moral and sensible legal decision-making 

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PRIME MINISTER’S SUMMIT, CANBERRA
National Medical Indemnity Litigation Workshop on Legal Change and Administrative Reform
Participation

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UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY [UTS] JOURNALISM SCHOOL
Student Project “Trusting Medicine”

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ABC TV DRAMA
“MDA”
Provision of storylines

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GEELONG HOSPITAL, BARWON HEALTH
Department of Perioperative Medicine, Anaesthesia & Pain Management
“Personal Performance Monitoring in Health Care” 
Project with Associate Professor Dr Stephen Bolsin 

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NSW HEALTH CLINICAL GOVERNANCE STEERING COMMITTEE
Brief participation 

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UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY [UTS] JOURNALISM SCHOOL
Student project:  “Medical Mishaps”

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AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR SAFETY AND QUALITY IN HEALTH CARE 
“Open Disclosure Project” working group

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PRIME MINISTER’S MEDICAL INDEMNITY TASKFORCE, CANBERRA
Participation 

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STATE CORONER’S OFFICE OF VICTORIA
“National Consultative Workshop on Improving the Value of Coronial Data for Patient Safety Initiatives”
Participant

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“Inhospitable Hospitals:  How They Perform” by Lorraine Long
Report

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“The “Roller Coaster” Death and Injury Toll” by Lorraine Long
Report

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MEDICAL INDEMNITY “CRISIS”
“A Rescue Package for Patients to Avoid Litigation” by Lorraine Long
Submission to Prime Minister’s Taskforce 

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AUSTRALIAN TREASURY
“Review of the Law of Negligence” 
Submission 

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PRIME MINISTER, ALL MINISTERS FOR HEALTH & AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN MINISTER FOR REVENUE, AND ASSISTANT TREASURER; PRIME MINISTER’S MEDICAL INDEMNITY TASK FORCE
Report and Submission
“A Rescue Package for Patients, Doctors, Hospitals and Government to Avoid Litigation” by Lorraine Long
As discussed on ABC Lateline with Tony Jones and guest Lorraine Long 
NB. Report requested by the USA Veterans’ Affairs Department, Washington DC, and the UK Health Secretary and NHS, London UK

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STATE CORONER’S OFFICE OF VICTORIA
“National Forum on Coronial Information”
Opening Address 
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2003
CHALLENGE PUT TO MELBOURNE PUBLIC HOSPITALS TO RELEASE THEIR MEDICAL ERROR RATE RESULTING IN: 
Seven (7) Victorian hospitals releasing their medical error data to the media for the first time 

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VICTORIAN QUALITY COUNCIL AND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
“Framework Development for Effective Consumer Involvement in Improving Health Services”
Panel member 

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VICTORIAN QUALITY COUNCIL AND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
“Achieving & Sustaining Practice Change – Consumers in Health”
Panel member 

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ALFRED HOSPITAL “ALFRED WEEK SAFETY FIRST”, PRAHRAN VICTORIA
“Telling the truth”
Open discussion with The Alfred Hospital CEO Dr Michael K. Walsh and Lorraine Long 

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 “Australian Hospitals: Monitoring Their Performance” by Lorraine Long
Report
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2004
AUSTRALIAN SENATE
“Inquiry into Hepatitis C and Blood Supply in Australia” 
Submission, provision of evidence and cross-examination 

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“Inhospitable hospitals: The Black List” by Lorraine Long
Report 

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NSW PREMIER’S DEPARTMENT AND CABINET
“Complete Restructure of the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission”
Consultation 

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NSW PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
“Inquiry into Complaints Handling Procedures in NSW Health” 
Submission, provision of evidence and cross-examination 

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SPECIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO CAMPBELLTOWN AND CAMDEN HOSPITALS
Submission to Commissioner Bret Walker SC (known as ‘The Walker Inquiry’) 

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“Under-Performing Nursing Homes” by Lorraine Long
Report

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NATIONAL MEDICO LEGAL CONGRESS — 
“In-depth examination of an adverse event in a children’s hospital and a (real-time) commentary of best practice response”
Joint presentation by Lorraine Long and Dr Colin Feekery, Clinical Support Deputy Director, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne 

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MATER HEALTH SERVICES, Brisbane, Queensland
Consultation and analysis of the MEAG data and media issues

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VICTORIAN QUALITY COUNCIL FORUM — 
“Accountability versus A Just Culture: Lifelong Partners or Mortal Enemies?” 
Panel member 

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AHIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE
“Private Health Insurance:  Sustaining Our Health System” 
Presentation and panel participant 

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AHIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE
“The Patient’s Perspective” by Lorraine Long 
Presentation 

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AHIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE
“Lessons for Health Funds:  What key healthcare quality and safety issues need to be addressed by the private health sector?”
Panel participant 

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13th NATIONAL MEDICO-LEGAL CONGRESS —
“Exposing the lack of transparency within hospitals and assessing how they can become more open”
Participant Medical indemnity Stakeholder Forum   
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2005
PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA
“Victoria Law Reform Coroners’ Act 1985 Discussion Paper”
Submission, provision of evidence, cross-examination 

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COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO BUNDABERG HOSPITAL, QUEENSLAND
Assistance to Commissioner Anthony Morris QC 

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14th NATIONAL MEDICO-LEGAL CONGRESS
“Managing Adverse Events” by Lorraine Long
Presentation 

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PARLIAMENTARY ACTION GROUP
Co-founder of coalition of action groups monitoring how governments respond to inquiries 

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STATE CORONER’S OFFICE OF VICTORIA
STATE CORONER’S OFFICE OF NEW SOUTH WALES
“Deaths in Hospitals”
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Japan Coroner and Medical Examiner’s Office, Tokyo, Japan
Consultation
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2006
“In hospitable Hospitals” by Lorraine Long
Report

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ABC TV FOUR CORNERS
“Killed by Care”

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STATE CORONER’S OFFICE OF VICTORIA
Japan Public Health Administration and Policy for Minister for Health, Labour and Welfare — Japanese Delegation
Consultation on patient safety and hospital death investigation 
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2007
“Our Caring Institutions At Work” by Lorraine Long
Report 

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“10 years monitoring hospitals: Which is the worst hospital in Australia?” by Lorraine Long
Report 

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UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY [UTS] JOURNALISM SCHOOL
Student project:  “Trusting Medicine”
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2008
Finally getting doctor-to-criminal scandal to air after ringing the alarm bells for 12 years:
“Hundreds Betrayed by Doctor”
“Collateral Damage”
“Graeme Reeves:  Secrets and Lies”
“Reeves Linked to 15 Deaths”

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NSW POLICE FORCE SEX CRIMES SQUAD AND HOMICIDE SQUAD
NSW Police Force establishment of Strike Force Tarella to investigate medical malpractice of former obstetrician and gynaecologist specialist doctor Graeme Stephen Reeves
Assistance and evidence to NSW Police Force Sex Crimes and Homicide Squad 

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TO UNDERTAKE TO COMPENSATE HARMED PATIENTS OF FORMER DR REEVES
Consultation with NSW Ministers for Health and Ministry 

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NSW MINISTER FOR HEALTH’S OFFICE
NSW PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
“Amendments to NSW medical Practice Act 1992”
Submission and consultation with the Hon Justice Deirdre O’Connor on proposed legislative changes 

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NSW PARLIAMENT
Under the Medical Practice Act that “place an obligation on all medical practitioners in NSW to report certain types of misconduct by other medical practitioners to the NSW Medical Board”
MEAG’s exposé drove legislative changes for Reportable Misconduct
NB.  This legislative change was enacted nationally.
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WALKLEY AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN AUSTRALIAN JOURNALISM TO
Investigative journalist Ross Coulthart and producer Nick Farrow for their reporting and coverage of MEAG’s exposé of the “Butcher of Bega”
MEAG’s exposé won them the “Gold Walkley”!
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2011
Criminal doctor Graeme Stephen REEVES jailed for his crimes of grievous bodily harm, indecency and sexual assault 
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2012
AUSTRALIAN SENATE -— STANDING COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
“The Role of Government and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regarding medical devices, particularly Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP) French breast implants”
Submission
NB. The Senate slapped a privacy injunction on our submission. The truth too hot to handle!  “The Committee” had to protect itself from further embarrassment as its “expert medical advisor” they engaged had inserted dud PIP implants into his patients.  Conflict of interest disregarded by the Senate secretariat and committee.
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2015  
Doctor-turned-criminal Graeme Stephen REEVES indicted for manslaughter 

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2016
“Patients and their families — What they think of health care in Australia” survey conducted by the MEAG
Report

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2017
“Patients and their families — What they think of health care in Australia”
Report ADDENDUM 

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NSW PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
“Select Committee on Off-Protocol Prescribing of Chemotherapy in NSW”
Submission 

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AUSTRALIAN SENATE — STANDING COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
“Inquiry into the number of women in Australia who have had transvaginal mesh implants and related matters”
Submission
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2018
UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY (UTS) JOURNALISM SCHOOL
Student Project — video news story:
“Medical errors, specifically misdiagnoses in Australia, in a broad national setting”
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2020
ROYAL COMMISSION INTO AGED CARE QUALITY AND SAFETY
Submission and assistance

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NSW PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
“Inquiry into health outcomes and access to health and hospital services in rural, regional and remote New South Wales”
Submission

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2022
ROYAL COMMISSION INTO DEFENCE AND VETERAN SUICIDE
Submission and assistance

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