Mortality Subcommittee
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The ANZCA Mortality Subcommittee developed as a collaboration between the chairs of established anaesthetic mortality committees in Australia, under the auspices of ANZCA. The group is chaired by Dr Neville Gibbs, and includes the chairs of all established anaesthetic mortality committees in the region, as well representatives of regions whose committees are in the planning or establishment phase, and other ANZCA representatives.
The ANZCA Mortality Subcommittee prepares triennial reports on anaesthetic mortality. The last report, Safety of Anaesthesia in Australia 2003-2005, was published in 2009. It is hoped that the 2006-2008 report will be published in 2011.
As not all regions have had continuously functioning anaesthetic mortality committees, the group works to promote the maintenance or establishment of appropriately resourced anaesthetic mortality committees in all states and territories, and in New Zealand. The group also promotes the standardisation of definitions relating to anaesthetic mortality, and the collection of accurate mortality data. The group has supported efforts to establish committees in Tasmania and New Zealand, and is continuing to support efforts in South Australia, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory.
The group meets at least once a year, and also reports to the ANZCA Quality and Safety Committee. The group collaborates with the ANZCA Quality and Safety Committee in the continued promotion and improvement of anaesthetic safety in Australia and New Zealand.
Council has developed terms of reference for ANZCA committees. The aim is to streamline both council and committee work by clarifying the purpose of and arrangements for committees, particularly to define which functions are delegated to committees (and reported through to council) and which require council approval. The terms of reference includes standardised definitions of a quorum, voting rules and that electronic decisions should be recorded in the minutes of the next meeting.
Committee members
| Title | Name | Region |
| Chair |
Dr Neville Gibbs |
WA |
| Chair, ANZCA Quality and Safety Committee |
Associate Professor David Scott | Vic |
| Chair, Anaesthetic Mortality Committee, WA | Dr Neville Gibbs | WA |
| Chair, Victorian Consultative Council on Anaesthetic Mortality and Morbidity | Associate Professor Larry McNicol | Vic |
| Chair, Special Committee Investigating Deaths Under Anaesthesia NSW | Dr David Pickford | NSW |
| Coordinator, Tasmanian Audit of Anaesthesia Mortality of the Tasmanian Audit of Surgical Mortality | Dr Margaret Walker | Tas |
| Member, New Zealand Perioperative Mortality Review Committee | Dr Leona Wilson | NZ |
| ACT representative |
Dr Stephen Brazenor |
ACT |
| South Australia and Northern Territory representative (co-opted) |
Professor John Russell |
SA |
| Queensland representative (co-opted) |
Dr James Troup | Qld |
| Director of Professional Affairs - professional documents |
Dr Peter Roessler |
Vic |
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