Hot Topics 64 - Health and the Law - Legal Information Access Centre

Further information
The Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC)
located in the State Library can help if you need
more information about the law, including cases and
legislation or see www.liac.sl.nsw.gov.au/legislation/.
The service is free and confidential. Contact details on
back cover.
The Health Information Service, located in the
State Library, is a free confidential service to help you
find accurate up-to-date information about health and
well-being. Resources include recent consumer health
publication, health-related databases and journals.
www.sl.nsw.gov.au/services/health
Tel: (02) 9273 1684
Email: health@sl.nsw.gov.au
Australian Law Reform Commission
www.alrc.gov.au
Website has many speeches and papers relating to
human genetic material and privacy including ‘Genes
and ingenuity: gene patenting and human health’
(ALRC 99) and ‘Essentially yours: the protection of
human genetic information in Australia’ (ALRC 96).
Australian Medical Association (NSW) Ltd
www.nswama.com.au
Click on the tab ‘Policy and issues’ to find position
papers and a section on medical ethics which includes
the AMA’s Code of conduct and declarations of the
World Medical Association.
guardianship Tribunal (NSW)
www.gt.nsw.gov.au
The Tribunal makes guardianship and financial
management orders for people aged 16 years and
over with decision-making disabilities. The website
has information and forms relating to medical
consent, clinical trials, powers of attorney, enduring
guardianship and substitute consent.
Tel: (02) 9555 8500
Toll free: 1800 463928
TTY: (02) 9552 8534
Fax: (02) 9555-9049
Email: gt@gt.nsw.gov.au
Health Care Complaints Commission
www.hccc.nsw.gov.au
The Commission investigates and prosecutes
complaints about health care. Website contains
information on making a health care complaint.
Tel: (02) 9219 7444
Toll Free in NSW 1800 043 159
TTY service for the hearing impaired: (02) 9219 7555
Fax: (02) 9281 4585
Email: hccc@hccc.nsw.gov.au
Interpreter service
People who prefer a language other than English should
contact us through Telephone Interpreter Service
(TIS) on 131 450. Interpreters can be arranged by the
Commission to discuss a complaint.
National Health and Medical Research Council
www.nhmrc.gov.au
The NHMRC provides independent advice on funding
health and medical research; ethical guidance on health
and medical research issues; and develops health advice.
They publish guidelines, information papers and
pamphlets on a range of health issues.
NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home
Care (DADHC)
www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au
Tel: 02 8270 2000
TTY: 02 8270 2167
Website includes:
Planning Ahead Kit: resources for managing financial,
health and lifestyle decisions into the future, 2005, which
provides information about enduring power of attorney,
enduring guardianship and advance care directives.
Your Future Starts Now: A Guide for Over 50s
(March 2008)
A booklet about taking steps to protect your interests
and making sure things are done the way you want.
NSW Health
www.health.nsw.gov.au
A wide range of resources under the ‘Publications and
resources’ tab, including Using Advance Care Directives:
NSW, www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2004/pdf/adcare_
directive.pdf
For a free print copy contact:
Better Health Centre – Publications Warehouse
Tel: (02) 9816 0452
Fax: (02) 9816 0492
Further information 23