Healthcare

Federal police are investigating a large-scale data breach at an unnamed commercial health information organisation, the National Cyber Security Coordinator has revealed. 

A court has granted an extension to the limitation period for a pelvic mesh patient suing her doctor for negligence, finding she did not have the knowledge to bring the case before the three-year window closed and that her claim for substantial damages for personal injury appeared “well founded”. 

A cyberattack has compromised the confidential data of thousands of sexual assault and family violence victims who were patients of Monash Health clinics.

Charges accusing Victoria’s Department of Health of health and safety breaches during the state’s hotel quarantine program have been dropped on the eve of trial, after the state succeeded in excluding evidence submitted to an inquiry into the disastrous program.

Tens of thousands of junior doctors who allege they were systemically underpaid have reached a $230 million settlement with NSW Health, the largest settlement ever in an underpayments class action.

After a seven-year legal battle, a court has upheld the validity of Neurim Pharmaceutical’s patent for insomnia drug Circadin and ruled two generic drug companies infringed the intellectual property.

The majority shareholders of vitamin giant Nature’s Care have been hit with the costs of the company’s failed bid for an injunction against its founding family, after a judge found the shareholders appear to have caused proceedings to be commenced as part of a strategy to “override the rights” of the family. 

The state of Victoria has won its bid to prevent lawyers for a class action over Victoria’s COVID-19 hotel quarantine debacle from proofing lay witnesses, ahead of a criminal trial against the Department of Health, which is due to start in May.

US animal drug manufacturer Zoetis has been granted leave to appeal a ruling that invalidated three of its patents covering pig vaccines.

Indian generics company Sun Pharma has taken Otsuka Pharmaceutical to court, alleging an extension for the patent for an injectable form of the Japanese drug maker’s blockbuster antipsychotic Abilify was wrongly granted and should be invalidated.