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Annual Medico-Legal Congress

Australia’s longest-running event for medical and legal professionals

17-18 March 2026 | Swissotel Sydney

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Early bird rate expires 9 January 2026

overview

The 35th Annual Medico-Legal Congress will be held on 17-18 March 2026 at the Swissotel Sydney. The Congress is a key opportunity for professionals from both the medical and legal fields to come together and address the latest issues, trends, and challenges impacting their work.

The comprehensive program is designed for clinicians from multiple settings, legal professionals, medico-legal advisers, hospital representatives, insurers, in-house counsel, AHPRA representatives, medico legal societies, academics, and government officials. A cornerstone in the medico legal calendar:  attendees will experience and learn from practical, in-depth discussions on emerging trends, regulatory changes, and real-world case studies that impact your practice.

2026 Key Highlights:

  • Health Law Updates: Navigate the evolving landscape of practitioner misconduct regulations, understand the implications of non-delegable duty in healthcare settings, and stay current with the latest legal frameworks affecting medical practice across Australia.
  • Regulation & Innovation: Explore critical developments in medicine prescribing protocols, examine the legal implications of AI Scribe technology in clinical documentation, and address the medico-legal challenges arising from Australia’s ongoing workforce crisis in healthcare.
  • Clinical Risk & Liability: Gain insights into the latest challenges in clinical negligence cases and professional liability issues, while exploring emerging medico-legal considerations that are reshaping modern healthcare delivery and patient care standards.

Why Attend?

The Congress brings together professionals from both the legal and medical sectors to discuss practical, current issues. It’s an opportunity to:

  • Stay informed on emerging challenges at the intersection of law and healthcare.
  • Network with professionals from across the medico-legal field.
  • Gain practical knowledge to help manage complex medico-legal issues in your daily work.
  • Learn from expert speakers who will cover key issues impacting your practice.

If you are a lawyer, clinician, or any other professional working in medico-legal fields, this Congress provides a useful forum to stay updated, discuss challenges, and gain insights that can be applied directly to your work.

Register Your Interest

To receive updates on speaker announcements, early bird discounts, and the release of the agenda, register your interest here.

2026 Speakers

Magistrate Ken Archer

Coroner, ACT Coroner’s Court

Professor Erwin Loh

President, Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA), Director of Medical Services, Monash Health/Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD

Prof Marie Bismark

Consultant Psychiatrist and Health Lawyer, Barwon Health

Dr Sidney Chandrasiri

Executive Director Medical Services, Department of Health Tasmania

Robyn Langham AM

Chief Medical Adviser, TGA

Dr Jamie Orchard

General Counsel, AHPRA

Hester Wilson

GP, Chief Addiction Medicine Specialist, NSW Health

Dr Malcolm Linsell

Specialist Plastic Surgeon

Darran Foo

Medical Director, Healthdirect Australia, Deputy Chair- Digital Health & Innovation SIG, RACGP

Dr Nisha Khot

Clinical Director O&G, Peninsula Health

Dr Marija Kirjanenko

 Emergency Physician, Eastern Health and Victorian Virtual Emergency, Mental Health Tribunal, Victoria

Butho Mayo

Mental Health Lead, Victorian Virtual Emergency Department

Lauren Cooper

Senior Social Worker, RPA Virtual

Shannon Saad

General Practitioner, RPA Virtual

Bill Madden

Senior Legal Counsel, Carroll & O'Dea Lawyers, Adjunct Professor, Australian Centre for Health Law Research (QUT)

Professor Tina Cockburn

Director, Australian Centre for Health Law Research

Professor William Rawlinson AM

Senior Medical Virologist, Director of Serology, Virology and OTDS Laboratories (SAViD), NSW Health Pathology Randwick

Dan Mabon

CEO/DON, Wyndham Clinic Private Hospital

Penelope June Weller

Health Law Professor, RMIT, Mental Health Tribunal Victoria

Julie Shooter

Special Counsel & Head of Health and Medical Law, Lander & Rogers

Ruanne Brell

Senior Legal Advisor, Avant Mutual

Dr. Owen Bradfield

Chief Medical Officer, MIPS

Agenda

8:30 am

Registration & Morning Coffee

9:00 am

DAY ONE OPENING

9:05 am

Opening Remarks From the Chair

Prof Marie Bismark, Consultant Psychiatrist and Health Lawyer, Barwon Health

9:10 am

Patient selection criteria for weight loss medications, liability considerations for prescribers, and strategies for providing comprehensive care while minimizing legal exposure

9:40 am

Australia’s key regulators and clinical leaders address the pressing legal and ethical challenges in medicinal cannabis prescribing, providing insights on:

  • Regulatory Compliance & Liability
  • Prescription Profits vs Patient Care
  • Concerns with Single-Issue Clinics

10:20 am

SPOTLIGHT SESSION | Informed Consent in Cosmetic Surgery: Evolving Standards and Digital Solutions

Dr Malcolm Linsell, Specialist Plastic Surgeon

10:50 am

Networking Break & Morning Tea

11:20 am

Long COVID (PASC) is a post-viral syndrome characterized by symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and postural hypotension. This session will explore the increasing medicolegal issues related to COVID acquisition and complications through relevant case examples.

12:00 pm

Virtual Healthcare- Coercive Control & Domestic Violence

Lauren Cooper, Senior Social Worker, RPA Virtual

Shannon Saad, General Practitioner, RPA Virtual

12:40 pm

Networking Lunch

1:40 pm

Clinical decision-making is complicated by balancing patient autonomy with safety and responsibility concerns, varying clinician risk tolerance, and complex hierarchies involving multiple teams and protocols, challenges that are particularly acute in Emergency Department settings.

3:00 pm

Networking Break & Afternoon Tea

3:30 pm

  • Significant amendments to take effect at the beginning of 2026
  • Focus on sexual misconduct by practitioners

4:00 pm

CLOSING PANEL| Addressing Healthcare Workforce Shortages: Regulation & Practical Strategies

Dr Nisha Khot, Clinical Director O&G, Peninsula Health

Dr Sidney Chandrasiri, Executive Director Medical Services, Department of Health Tasmania

Moderated by Prof Marie Bismark, Consultant Psychiatrist and Health Lawyer, Barwon Health

4:45 pm

Closing Remarks from Chair

4:50 pm

Networking Drinks

6:00 pm

DAY 1 CONCLUDES

8:30 am

Registration & Morning Coffee

9:00 am

DAY TWO OPENING

9:05 am

Opening Remarks From the Chair

Dr Sidney Chandrasiri, Executive Director Medical Services, Department of Health Tasmania

9:10 am

A practicing coroner delivers myth-busting insights on what triggers coronial investigations, how modern coronial processes prioritize systemic improvements over individual blame, and the evolution toward trauma-informed proceedings with practical guidance.

9:50 am

The Future of AI in Healthcare: Opportunities, Challenges, and Governance

Professor Erwin Loh, President, Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA), Director of Medical Services, Monash Health/Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD

10:30 am

Networking Break & Morning Tea

11:00 am

Transforming Patient Care: D2C Clinics, Virtual Care, and Smart Documentation

Darran Foo, Medical Director, Healthdirect Australia, Deputy Chair- Digital Health & Innovation SIG, RACGP

11:20 am

This panel explores AI scribes in healthcare through regulatory, clinical, and legal lenses, addressing medical device classification, user experiences, and liability considerations for healthcare providers.

12:00 pm

Psychiatric injury claims are increasing, encompassing nervous shock, secondary victim cases, and delayed diagnostic scenarios, with challenges stemming from the subjective nature of symptoms and absence of physical evidence.

12:30 pm

Networking Lunch

1:30 pm

This session examines mental health treatment frameworks through legal and ethical perspectives, covering voluntary versus involuntary care, public/private and metro/regional service disparities, inpatient care ethics and management, and Community Treatment Orders under mental health legislation.

2:10 pm

Explore the legal risks and responsibilities in orthopaedic and musculoskeletal practice, with expert insights into defence strategies, common medico-legal challenges, and practical tools to help clinicians respond to claims and mitigate against future claims.

2:40 pm

Closing Remarks from Chair

2:45 pm

DAY 2 CONCLUDES

2026 Sponsors

Pricing

Packages Price
Package(Two Days)$2895$2695+GST Early Bird Rate Early Bird Rate
Virtual Pass$2795$2495+GST Early Bird Rate Early Bird Rate
Extras Price
Workshop $595+GST
Streamly Access Pass $150+GST
Packages Price
Package(Two Days)$2195$1895+GST Early Bird Rate Early Bird Rate
Virtual Pass$1995$1795+GST Early Bird Rate Early Bird Rate
Extras Price
Workshop $595+GST
Streamly Access Pass $150+GST

Early bird rate expires 9 January 2026

Testimonials

“The medicolegal congress is a unique way of finding links and information from others working in the juncture between medical and legal practice. The topics, speakers and organization allow meaningful insights to be gained over a short period of time.”
– Delegate 2025

“It was is an outstanding event that brings together experts from both the medical and legal fields to discuss critical issues at the intersection of healthcare and law. It provides invaluable insights into emerging medico-legal challenges, case law updates, and best practices. The sessions are highly informative, featuring thought-provoking discussions led by industry leaders. Beyond the knowledge gained, the congress offers an excellent platform for networking with peers, sharing experiences, and staying ahead in this rapidly evolving field. I highly recommend it to anyone involved in medico-legal practice.”
– Delegate 2025

“Fantastic event! Great mixture of topics and expertise. Valuable insights.”
– Delegate 2025

“I have just returned from your two-day conference, and I feel it is only appropriate that I take the time to give my personal thanks for such an excellent event. I recognize that it must have taken a great deal of time to plan and organize, and it was time well spent. With speakers of the highest standard as well as the introduction of a specialist key note speaker, it was the most memorable of all conferences. The organizers kept to the timing of each speaker. The venue was a perfect location for our visitors from interstate to attend and participate, as was the food. Your team made the event a joyful occasion. The overall quality of this year’s 33rd medicolegal conference was outstanding. Congratulations, and thank you.”
Delegate 2024

“Diverse range of topics and speakers, fantastic/respectful discussion, great chairs each day”.
Delegate 2023

“The congress provided great opportunities to meet and float research ideas which further reminds us of the importance of communication in healthcare”.
Delegate 2023

“Very broad coverage of medico legal topics. Very easy to understand and no overlapping”.
Delegate 2023

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities

The Annual Medico-Legal Congress is one of Australia’s leading events for the medico-legal community, offering a unique platform to engage with key industry stakeholders and senior decision-makers across this industry.

As a sponsor or exhibitor, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with a diverse audience, share insights, and foster meaningful conversations about the latest developments in the field. This congress is not just about showcasing products and services; it’s about building lasting relationships and contributing to the future of medico-legal practice in Australia.

For more information on how to get involved, please contact;
Lily Doherty
Sponsorship Manager
+61 2 9080 4340
lily.doherty.au@informa.com

Event Code of Conduct

We want everyone who comes to our events to have a great experience. This code explains our expectations and rules, which includes general good practice behaviour, and how to report anything witnessed or experienced that goes against them. Read our Event Code of Conduct here.

ConnectMe + Streamly

ConnectMe • Networking enhanced

All of our events utilise a bespoke dynamic smartphone app, ConnectMe – which guarantees attendees a premium event experience. Logins are sent prior to the conference commencement allowing you to check who’s attending, schedule in meetings and catch ups, participate in live Q+A and interactive polls, and much more. ConnectMe ensures you never miss a beat prior, during and post event.

 

Streamly • On-Demand video vault

Streamly is a new video platform from Informa Connect – hosting hours of session recordings from our events and more. Select the Streamly add-on at the checkout to receive an annual subscription to exclusive On-Demand session recordings from all of our related healthcare events*. Login information will be sent post event. For more information visit our Streamly page.

* Note: In a minority of cases, speakers may request their sessions to be excluded from Streamly access.

Sustainability

Our Commitment to Sustainability

In Australia, we are committed to running our events in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Across Informa Connect we are focusing on the short and long-term sustainability impacts we have on customers and colleagues alongside the communities we work in.

We recognise that it’s not just about the way we produce our events and products but recognising that we have a role to play in providing a space to work in partnership together with our markets to inspire the sustainable development of the industries we serve.

To read more on our latest sustainability reports and Faster Forward initiatives – click here.

when & where

17 - 18 Mar 2026

Swissotel Sydney
68 Market St,
Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 9238 8888

contact

Still have a question?

Speaking Enquiries
Tammie Wang
+61 2 9080 4330
Tammie.Wang@informa.com

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
Lily Doherty
+61 2 9080 4340
lily.doherty.au@informa.com

Marketing & Media Enquiries
Francesco Giannetto
Francesco.Giannetto@informa.com

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