The statistics of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Domestic Violence prevalence are staggering. 1 in 6 adult women and 1 in 16 adult men have experience physical or sexual abuse at the hands of their partner. Approximately 2.5 million Australians (13%) experienced abuse during their childhood. However, IPV is a topic that is rarely discussed. As healthcare professionals, we need to change this.

A recent study by our guests on this episode, Timelines of psychological, physical and sexual intimate partner violence among a nationally representative sample of Australian women, studied the timeline of psychological, physical, and sexual intimate partner violence. They highlighted that early warning signs of an abusive partner include isolation, controlling behaviour, and intense jealously. We discuss these important findings and other take home messages of this study and how we can apply it to everyday practice.

This is the story about intimate partner violence.

Our special guests:

Dr Elizabeth McLindon is a Research Fellow in the Department of General Practice and works in the Sexual Abuse and Family Violence (SAFE) program. Elizabeth is the Deputy Director of the Centre for Family Violence Prevention at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne.

Professor Kelsey Hegarty is an academic general practitioner who holds the joint Chair in Family Violence Prevention at the University of Melbourne and the Royal Women’s Hospital. She also leads the Safer Families Centre.

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Oral cancer was a fatal disease even into the twentieth century. Patients required extensive surgery and often had a painful recovery or went into palliative care but the result was the same. Modern medicine has thankfully provided much to our understanding, the treatment and management of patients with oral cancer.

In recent times, patients have been able to be stratified into two general but distinct categories: the first are older with a strong history of heavy smoking and/or alcohol use; the second are younger and have a history of multiple sexual partners. The distinction is important as the treatment and management are different between the two groups with the second group having a much better prognosis.

This is the story of oral cancer.

Our special guests:

Dr Rebecca Morrow is an anatomical pathologist and deputy head of department at the Royal Adelaide Hospital with SA Pathology.

Dr Rowan Valentine is a paediatric and adult Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon.

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This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify. Help support us on our donation page.

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The first medical description of pernicious anaemia is from 1821. It is written by Dr James Combe and describes a previously well 47 year old corn-merchant who presented with pallor, weakness, and neurological symptoms. It would take over a hundred years before we would know how to treat this condition, and another decade after that to understand why the treatment worked.

Vitamin B12 is an essential component of our diet and only found in animal products. Deficiency in vitamin B12 can present with fatigue, anaemia (macrocytic), and neurological symptoms. The most at risk from a dietary perspective are vegetarians, vegans, and the elderly. Patients may also have an autoimmune condition (pernicious anaemia) that interferes with gastric parietal cells and intrinsic factor; the way our body can absorb vitamin B12 from our diet.

This is the story of vitamin B12.

Our special guest:

Our special guest is Professor Ken Sikaris who is a chemical pathologist and Director of Chemical Pathology at Dorevitch Pathology.

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