Explanatory note

My writing sometimes includes stories about people receiving medical treatment and their carers. I am mindful of my privilege and professional obligations as a medical practitioner and strive to only write about consumers in respectful and ethical ways. In most cases, the people, problems and events described in my reflective writing are fictional and are described in the most minimal detail possible to provide necessary context and meaning. When real people, problems and events are described in my writing, demographic and clinical details are heavily de-identified, and stories are only included if the person (or their next-of-kin, if the person is not able to provide consent) has read the final draft and consented to publication.