Public Lecture - Prof. Linda Shields: Do Doctors Really Know Best? Thurs 25 July, 5.30pm

Who makes the decisions about a person’s health care will be examined in a James Cook University public lecture this week.

The presentation, titled Doctors know best: Why patients should make decisions about their health care & how they can do so, will be presented by Professor Linda Shields, Director of the Tropical Health Research Unit in JCU’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition and Townsville Hospital and Health Service.

The presentation is part of JCU’s Science & Society in the Tropics Public Lecture Series.

Professor Shields said the delivery, and acceptance, of advice on medical matters had changed over the last century.

“In years past, people who received health care were never involved in making decisions about it – that was left to the doctor, who was said to know best,” Professor Shields said.

“Such thinking has changed, and now people are becoming more aware of the issues surrounding their health and how to maintain it.”

Professor Shields said technological innovations had influenced awareness and attitudes.

“The internet has played a big part in this, but it can be misleading, with a wide range in the quality of information on offer,” she said.

“This presentation will address this and give some skills on how to sort out the good from the bad. People will be able to go to their nurse or doctor with relevant information and the confidence to be able to discuss it.”

BIOGRAPHY
Linda Shields is Director of the Tropical Health Research Unit, a partnership between James Cook University and Townsville Hospital and Health Service in Queensland, and Honorary Professor, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland. Her research includes health in tropical regions, family-centred care, paediatric perioperative nursing, and the ethics and history of nursing, in particular, in Nazi Europe. Linda is the first nurse in Australia to hold a higher doctorate, with a Doctor of Medicine from The University of Queensland. She also holds a PhD and Master’s degree from the School of Medicine at UQ.

Presentation details:
Date: Thursday 25th, July 2013
Time: 5.30pm for a 6.00pm start
Location: Education Central, Building 134-010, JCU Townsville

For more information contact: Kiara Cantamessa on tel: 07 4781 5179, mobile: 0419 547 797 or email: kiara.cantamessa1@jcu.edu.au