VICDOC Summer 2023 - Magazine - Page 17
Climate change is a health issue, and doctors have
a proud history of raising our collective voice
and leading to protect public health.
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I STOPPED USING DESFLURANE AND NITROUS
OXIDE IN MY PRACTICE OVER A DECADE AGO.
-
Neither are part of my anaesthetic practice.
I think this is an important individual
step as they're both potent greenhouse
gases, and I don't believe they’re necessary to
provide safe, effective anesthesia. My practice
is now predominantly total intravenous
anaesthesia, using propofol which has a
fourfold lower carbon footprint than
any anaesthetic gas.
I AM AN OPTIMIST. WE KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE AND WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO ENABLE THE
NECESSARY CHANGES IN OUR RACE TO NET ZERO.
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Climate change and its health impacts
have been widely known for several
decades. However, as we have failed to
act decisively over the last decade to curb
emissions, urgent action is now needed.
My optimism stems from the present
availability of the technology and means
to make the necessary changes and the
opportunity to transform healthcare to
be high quality, low carbon and resilient.
What we need now is the political,
professional and public will to do that.
THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR IS CONTRIBUTING
TO THE PROBLEM, BUT AS MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS WE ARE WELL PLACED
TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.
-
We have agency. Climate change is a
health issue, and doctors have a proud
history of raising our collective voice
and leading to protect public health.
It is important that we communicate with
and educate our patients, other healthcare
workers, politicians, policy makers and the
wider public on the urgent need to act to
minimise the health impacts of climate
change. The medical profession has an
important role to play in advocacy.
Learn more about the
National Health and
Climate Strategy
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