It's about time someone opened up the truth of how poor the standard of clinical service is in Australia. I broke my back at L1/2 and was told there was nothing wrong with me (basically( refused adequate analgesia, sent back to work, driving over 160 K's each day, called a slut, and all the time I had a ruptured disk at L1 and torn muscles. I now have a fusion at L1, rods & screws to hold the unstable back together. My nursing career (I was a Consultant in QA & Infection Control) was destroyed because the doctors chose to cover up for each other. If they deny the diagnosis for three years they cannot be sued for negligence. They are then forced to cover up for their mates - the Medical Defence Union will cut out their insurance if they go against one another. The GIO told me most people with this condition commit suicide because the pain is that bad and the doctors treat them so badly. I was not treated for three years. Keep up the good work. I cannot be sure if I will be around much longer: the lack of trust I feel in the Australian system is so huge. I wrote to the HCCC and Medical Reg Board. Someone should have recognised the symptoms of a broken back but even they told me to piss off. No trust left. God bless Anne Catherine Richards

The GIO told me most people with this condition commit suicide because the pain is that bad and the doctors treat them so badly. I was not treated for three years.

I cannot be sure if I will be around much longer: the lack of trust I feel in the Australian system is so huge. I wrote to the HCCC and Medical Reg Board. Someone should have recognised the symptoms of a broken back but even they told me to piss off.