Tragic death of Dr Artyom Avetisyan

AMA Tasmania extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Dr Artyom Avetisyan, who was tragically killed on the Midland Highway after working at an outpatient clinic in Launceston.

Dr Avetisyan was a highly respected cardiothoracic surgery registrar whose death has shocked and saddened colleagues across the Tasmanian medical community.

His loss is being felt deeply by those who worked and trained with him, and by the many patients and families who benefited from his care. His death is a profound loss for Tasmania.

Tasmania’s health system serves communities spread across a large and geographically challenging state, requiring doctors to travel significant distances between hospitals, outpatient clinics, regional services, and training placements to provide care where it is needed.

The circumstances surrounding the crash will properly be a matter for the coroner and WorkSafe. However, the death of any doctor travelling for work or training must prompt more than a procedural response. It requires a serious, compassionate, and practical examination of work health and safety, fatigue management, rostering and travel arrangements.

Any risk management analysis must translate into real, practical protections for doctors working and travelling across Tasmania.

We must learn from a life taken far too soon, identify any systemic risks and ensure every reasonable step is taken to prevent such a tragedy happening to anyone else.

Doctors work long hours, often under intense pressure, and travel across Tasmania’s health system can add to the fatigue and risk they face. It is essential that those risks are recognised in real terms, and that doctors are supported to work, travel and train safely.

As soon as we became aware of this tragedy, AMA Tasmania wrote to the Department raising the concerns of our members. We will continue to work with doctors, health services, and government to ensure fatigue management, rostering and travel arrangements are reviewed and strengthened where needed.

Any review must be practical, transparent, timely and focused on prevention, and must reflect the lived reality of doctors working across Tasmania.

If any doctors have concerns about fatigue, safety, or related matters, please contact AMA Tasmania so they can be given appropriate attention.

Drs4Drs Tasmania is also available to any doctor, medical student or family member affected by this tragedy. We encourage anyone who needs support to reach out - 1300 374 377

At this very difficult time, our thoughts remain with Dr Avetisyan’s family, loved ones and colleagues.>>>ENDS