Embrace Co-Director Professor Helen Milroy AM has called for more medical compassion following the release of the latest edition of the most trusted book on being a doctor in Australia.
The fifth edition of Good Medical Practice: Professionalism, Ethics and Law was released by the Australian Medical Council this week.
Professor Milroy served on the editorial panel alongside Dr Anne Tonkin AO, Theanne Walters AM and Professor Tim Wilkinson.
“Australia will always need good doctors and, given where the world is at the moment, even more so,” Professor Milroy said.
“The book has wonderful stories, clinical skills and lots of compassion.”
This new edition reflects the influence of technological innovation, changing societal expectations, and an emerging expectation of cultural safety and equity in healthcare, according to the AMC website.
It is designed for doctors across all stages of their careers and features new chapters on telehealth regulation, data privacy and cross-jurisdictional practices.
“It covers difficult and emotional topics and is a much-needed and hopefully helpful book for students through to doctors,” Professor Milroy said.
For me personally, it helped me reflect on what has to change but also what should remain the same. Many of the principles of good practice remain, including the fundamental role of relationships, good communication and connection. Healing will always take place in the context of relationships and good medical practice.
Find more information on the AMC website here.
Embrace is supported by principal partner Rio Tinto and Channel 7 Telethon Trust.
First published Thursday 26 March 2026.
View all news articles