Notions of liberty and freedom are problematic when it comes to imposing mental-health compulsion orders, University of Otago law Prof John Dawson told mental-health nurses in Dunedin yesterday.
Parents who blame genetics alone for their children's failings might be on shaky ground, as new University of Otago research has pegged the onset of depression and antisocial behaviour to a child's home environment.
"We can't understand why 29 men filled with life could die so tragically, " the Rev Dr Sarah Mitchell told those attending a Pike River memorial service at Knox Church in Dunedin yesterday.
"South Dunedin is a wonderful place, but it needs a bit of tidying up."
The Ravensbourne rail overbridge should be reopened to provide a safe crossing point and restore a historic landmark, Chalmers Community Board chairwoman Jan Tucker said at last week's meeting.
A University of Otago study has found a strong link between paracetamol use in children and the development of allergies and asthma, but the researcher says parents should not be worried yet.
A memorial service for the Pike River miners will be held at Dunedin's St Paul's Cathedral on Friday.
Neurosurgery has been picked for a national service-improvement programme to establish standardised care and clinical guidelines.
A Dunedin mother suspects GPs lack knowledge of the superbug MRSA, after her son was prescribed multiple cycles of antibiotics that were useless against the superbug.
Newly-appointed Southern District Health Board chairman Joe Butterfield says despite a reputation for being "somewhat abrupt", his style is cohesive and he will lead in a co-operative manner.
University of Otago researchers are hoping to replicate a ground-breaking study linking iodine to intelligence, this time with adults.
Prompted by the death of a road-crash patient at Southland Hospital during a CT scan, an investigation recommended a review of trauma protocol, and installing an alarm linking radiology and the emergency department, the just-released report on medical mistakes revealed.
Dunedin GP Dr Salil Elias says his "Movember" moustache is something of a talking point among patients.
Dunedin rest-home that closed in September was using milk-bottle tops to dispense medication, apparently as a cost-saving measure, even though residual water in the tops damaged the medication, a surprise inspection initiated by the Southern District Health Board revealed.
Radiographers lifted all strike action yesterday to allow a vote by members on whether to settle a long-running pay dispute with district health boards.
Josiah Brown, of Invercargill, won yesterday's Otago Southland Vegemite Spelling Bee final in Dunedin and will head to Wellington in February for the national final along with second-place-getter Josh Whitney.
Attempts to broker a compromise in a long-running dispute between two recreation groups over reserve land in Waikouaiti has been unsuccessful and the community board is to recommend which of the two gets to develop and use the land.
Setting up the governance board to oversee the change to the new, integrated South Island neurosurgery service by Christmas may prove difficult.
The disagreement with Christchurch over neurosurgery was a "blessing in disguise" as it led to restoring lapsed ties with the University of Otago, the former head of Dunedin Hospital neurosurgery, Sam Bishara, says.
Fuel should be restored to Waikouaiti by the new year, new provider Southfuels general manager (sales and marketing) Greg Cassidy says.
