Cancer surgeries getting delayed at major hospital to hit waitlist targets, doctor claims
In response to our story the NSW Health Minister's office told us that NSW Health is now reviewing the re-categorisation of surgeries undertaken at Orange Hospital.
Joanna Woodburn reports for 7.30.
Statement from Western NSW Local Health District.
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ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
What is a state, and how do you start a new country? Statehood: Explained
NICHOLAS MAHER, REPORTER: Right now, a lot of people are talking about statehood, specifically Palestine being recognised as a state by Australia. But what does that actually mean? What is a state and who gets to decide who gets to be one? Let's start with that first question. In Australia, when we hear the word state, we usually think of these, but in international law, a sovereign state is a term used to describe countries like Australia or China. In order to be considered a sovereign state, there are four criteria that need to be met. You need a permanent population, a defined territory, a government that's not under the authority of another government, and the ability to enter into agreements with other states. So, who gets to decide when a state officially becomes a state? In international law, there two main ideas that dictate when a state is considered to be a state. The constitutive theory, which was the model in the 19th century and the declaratory theory, which was developed in the 20th century as a way to address some of the issues people had with the constitutive theory. When the constitutive theory was dominant, statehood wasn't automatic. There were no formal legal rules or criteria that needed to be met. Basically, a state could only become a state when it was recognised by other, already established states. This put a lot of power in the hands of the few established states that existed at the time. And because there weren't any real guidelines, recognition was often influenced by politics, or the strategic interests of these established powers. In the 20th century a new idea started to emerge, declaratory theory. This was expressed in the 1933 Montevideo Convention, which outlined the four criteria we talked about earlier that are still used today. Introducing a universal checklist for statehood challenged the idea that powerful countries could control who gets to be a state. The basic idea is that an entity is a state if it meets certain criteria, whether it's recognised by other states is a completely separate issue. In theory, this made becoming a state less political and more legal and objective, and in the years since World War II, we've seen a massive jump in the number of new countries being recognised. However, the story doesn't end here, and the way all of this actually plays out in reality isn't quite as clear cut. Despite declaratory theory meaning you can pretty much just declare yourself a state today if you meet the criteria, it doesn't mean you're automatically granted all the rights and status that other states may have. The reality is, being recognised by other states, constitutive theory, still plays a huge role in how much power and influence a state actually has on the international stage. A good example of this is Palestine. Today, the state of Palestine is recognised by more than 140 countries. In the eyes of the Palestinians and those 140 plus countries, Palestine meets the criteria for statehood, and is therefore a state, full stop. However, to countries that don't recognise it, like the United States, Palestine isn't a state. This leaves Palestine in a bit of a weird limbo. It can still function normally when it deals with other states that recognise it; for example, signing treaties or trade deals. It doesn't have the full international rights and status that a country like Australia has. The clearest example of this is the fact that Palestine still isn't a full member state at the United Nations, which is often seen as one of the final steps in achieving full international status. To become a member of the UN, you need the approval of at least two-thirds of the UN's member states, which Palestine has. You also need approval from at least nine of the 15 members of the UN Security Council, which Palestine also has. So, what's the problem here? The UN Security council, which is in charge of maintaining international peace and security, has five permanent members that can veto any decision. And when a vote on Palestinian membership came up in 2024, it was vetoed by the United States. This is why stories about countries deciding to recognise Palestine often gain international attention, despite most of the world having already made up its mind about this issue a while ago. Try to think of it this way: If you're looking at things from a strictly declaratory theory standpoint, the UK and France recognising Palestine may not seem like a big deal for Palestinians, because in their eyes it's just confirming what they already know: Palestine is a state. However, from a constitutive theory standpoint recognition from France and the UK is a big deal because it means two permanent members of the Security Council are now a lot less likely to veto Palestinian membership at the UN. Recognition from countries like France and the U.K. Also potentially puts pressure on the United States, now the final remaining permanent Security Council member in opposition to Palestinian statehood, which, to Palestinians, represents one of the final hurdles standing in the way of Palestine achieving the full UN membership status it's been waiting for a long time.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Doctors ignored 29-year-old's stage 4 cancer symptoms until it was too late
Jordan Brunoli, the bass player for Brisbane-based band Bugs, has opened up about being diagnosed with 'incurable' stage 4 colorectal cancer at just 29 years old. Brunoli discovered that the cancer had spread from his bowels to his liver and lymph nodes after doctors finally agreed to give him a scan. His bandmates have since created a GoFundMe page for his treatment. The band first broke the news to fans in a heartbreaking post on Instagram in June. They revealed that Brunoli was 'sent away from the emergency room and his GP repeatedly' after first showing symptoms. 'After months of constant pain Jordan was finally sent for a scan and diagnosed leaving his family in a state of shock'. Since then, the musician has had surgery to remove tumours from his bowel and lymph nodes. Doctors also created a stoma — an opening in his bowels to collect waste. A charity concert is being planned in Brisbane, and as word of Brunoli's diagnosis spreads many are sharing their shock and dismay that so many younger people are being affected by the disease. The musician said that he has been 'getting used to living with a stoma'. 'Physically, this doesn't hold me back, I'm able to do 90 per cent of what I could before, just with a slightly higher risk of getting a hernia,' Brunoli said on his GoFundMe page. 'Not to be preachy, but if you have witnessed any blood in your stool, experienced weird abdominal pains, unexplained weight loss, or extended periods of fatigue — don't be afraid to raise it with your GP and ask for an abdominal ultrasound. 'I thought I was too young, but there has been a recent increase in instances of colorectal cancer in people under 30. 'Getting a diagnosis now could be the difference in a stage 1 tumour or stage 4 metastatic.' Colon cancer falls under the banner of bowel cancer, with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners reporting that it was up 266 per cent from the 1980s among 15 to 24 year olds. The spike in bowel cancer cases is so worrying, the US Preventive Services Task Force changed its colorectal cancer screening guidelines in 2021 to lower the recommended age to start screening from 50 to 45 for those experiencing symptoms and those with a family history of colon cancer may be eligible earlier. Oncologists have partly blamed the concerning rise on obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, the Western diet, excess sugar consumption, and environmental factors such as pollutants in the air, soil, and water. Early detection can improve survival chances. Treatment often involves surgery to remove the tumour, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. So what are the warning signs to look out for? Changes in bowel habits: Persistent changes such as diarrhoea, constipation, or a feeling that the bowel does not empty completely. Blood in stool: This can appear as bright red blood or darker stools, indicating bleeding in the colon. Abdominal discomfort: Frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps. Unexplained weight loss: Losing weight without trying can be a sign of colon cancer. Fatigue and weakness: Persistent tiredness that doesn't improve with rest. Narrow stools: Stools that are thinner than usual may indicate changes in the colon. Feeling of incomplete evacuation: A sensation that you need to have a bowel movement even after you've had one.
SBS Australia
5 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Player defections, why Timana chose NSW over Kiwis at 18 years of age
Interviews and feature reports from NITV. A mob-made podcast about all things Blak life. The Point: Referendum Road Trip Live weekly on Tuesday at 7.30pm Join Narelda Jacobs and John Paul Janke to get unique Indigenous perspectives and cutting-edge analysis on the road to the referendum. Watch now
