Dr. Artyom Avetisyan, a cardiothoracic registrar at the Royal Hobart Hospital, died in a single-vehicle crash on the Midland Highway near Melton Mowbray on June 12 after completing a shift that reportedly lasted around 20 hours.
According to Pulse Tasmania, Dr. Avetisyan had been working an extended shift before driving back when his vehicle left the road and crashed. Emergency responders attended the scene, but he died from his injuries.
He was reportedly driving back to Hobart from Launceston after completing a shift at Launceston General Hospital when the crash occurred.
Police and emergency services responded to a single-vehicle crash on the Midland Highway near the Pontville roundabout shortly before 10:40 p.m. Investigators said Dr. Avetisyan was travelling south in a blue Mercedes station wagon when the vehicle left the roadway, struck an embankment, rolled over, and came to rest on its roof. No other vehicles were involved. He died at the scene despite emergency efforts, and police continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash.
Dr. Artyom Avetisyan was remembered as a dedicated and highly respected member of the medical community. In an interview with ABC News Nicklason, chair of the Royal Hobart Hospital Medical Staff Association, said fatigue remains a major concern for doctors who frequently travel between hospitals and work extended hours.
Dr. Nicklason said clinicians often face long shifts followed by lengthy drives between hospitals, and that fatigue is a significant workplace safety issue that requires stronger systemic safeguards rather than relying solely on individual responsibility.
The Tasmanian Department of Health stated that it has fatigue management policies in place and reviewed them earlier this year.However, concerns about their effectiveness persist. Dr. Michael Lumsden-Steel, president of the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Medical Association, said doctors often find it difficult to decline additional work because of the potential impact on patient care.
The pipeline is not moving efficiently, we've got patients suffering and waiting, and I think this is something that's always a burden that doctors dealing in high acuity areas are carrying.Dr. Michael Lumsden-Steel, President Australian Medical Association, Tasmania Branch
The union has called on the Tasmanian government and the Department of Health to strengthen policies that limit excessive work hours and ensure safer rostering practices for medical staff.
The Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF) Tasmania also called for an independent review of the state's fatigue management policies, arguing that existing measures do not adequately protect doctors working extended hours or travelling between hospitals after long shifts. The union said the tragedy highlighted the need for stronger safeguards to prevent fatigue-related risks.
A 2023 Australian study involving 366 general practice registrars found that more than 75% experienced moderate to high levels of emotional exhaustion, a key component of burnout. The findings underscore the need for stronger workplace support to protect doctors' wellbeing. 1
Tasmania's Department of Health introduced a Fatigue Management Policy in 2021, which aims to reduce fatigue-related risks by encouraging safe rostering, adequate breaks, and shared responsibility between employers and employees.
According to the Department of Health, the policy was reviewed earlier in 2026 as part of ongoing efforts to improve fatigue risk management. The department also said it would continue cooperating with the coroner's investigation into Dr. Avetisyan's death while supporting his family and colleagues.
According to ABC news, Tasmanian Foundation for Occupational Medicine president Peter Sharman Believes stronger system-level protections are needed, including better rostering practices, clearer limits on consecutive working hours, and improved staffing levels to reduce excessive workloads.
Sharman said fatigue should be managed as an occupational health and safety risk through system-wide measures rather than expecting individual clinicians to determine whether they are fit to drive home after extended shifts.
Reference:
1. Hoffman, Rebekah, Judy Mullan, and Andrew Bonney. 2023. “A Cross-Sectional Study of Burnout among Australian General Practice Registrars.” BMC Medical Education 23 (47). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-023-04043-4
(Rh/ARC/MSM)